The Burial Place

Casually, and out of no where My best friend turned to me and said: Of coming death I've no fear Just bury me in Port Charlotte when I'm dead Why there, I asked, a child, An old forgotten flame went before you Why not Jamaica's tropic wild Why has southwest Florida so allured you? None of those, none of those, She told me, have you ever seen The family plot that I will lose It's a quiet remote woodland scene A dense bush of animal sounds A dark place even at top of day Where loneliness still abounds O let me not dead in a dead place lay. I am a child of civilization I like the music and the lights The sound of feet, commotion Of the cars, party through the nights Port Charlotte cemetery meets The bill, there is a church near And a school, and always busy streets At nights the clubs are never drear Bury me where the party goes on She said, and I amused, smiled And swallowed every question So did not her composure spoiled For shall the dead enjoy all that Or mingle with us again, vain dream But I'll keep my broom lest some bat Dare try to make my children scream.