For Fife with Bugle

Drape black, from Mayberry

to Rockfish,

shutter the courthouse

and disband the choir.

Sarah, get me Sheriff Taylor

or no, I suppose

it’s too late for that.

Talk of how he fought on,

acapella and bulletless,

only to be nipped in the bud

at the age of 81.

Drape black, from Mount Pilot

to Santa Monica,

and then bury him

among the bullfighters and the astronauts.

Good night, Sweet Deputy

and flights of fun-girls

sing thee to thy rest.

February 26, 2006