For Linda-Our Father's Dying

Our father’s dying............... The sky is crying plays the background to my tears. Our father’s dying................ The sky is crying plays the background to my fears. Our father’s dying................... That most precious, wonderful, decent man is dying. The sky is crying plays the background to my tears. Please do not take him before the summer sun has once more on his roses shone and another winter been and gone but when you must ‘ashes to ashes dust to dust’ Let the dark river Styx softly bear him upwards to the river Nile. May he lie afloat on dreams to where cicadas sing, rocked tenderly beneath African sky. May he drift on towards his younger days Striding once more across Africa’s plains, where eagles fly and Masai cattle graze. Then home to hear our mother call his name. Let her greet him in floral fitted dress and walk with him where Jacaranda grow. By sweet jasmine may they warmly embrace and his failing heart with new strength over flow. May they dance forever when the day is done Young lovers entwined at the setting sun. Our father’s dying............... The sky is crying plays the background to my tears.