FLOWERS GATHER AT THE ALTER
BEFORE THE BLACK MURMURED CROWD
RAFTERS THAT WOULD RING WITH LAUGHTER
IF WIDOWS THOUGHTS WERE HEARD OUT LOUD.

PEWS OF THE RUSTLED PAYING RESPECT
NEWS OF THE HUSTLED FORGIVEN ALL DEBT
RELIEF BREWED SLOWLY IN A KETTLE OF SCORN
FOR MANY MEN RUE THE DAY HE WAS BORN.

IF NOT FOR FALSE HONOR AND THE THREAT OF FALSE DEED
HE WOULD BE A GONER WITH NO ONE TO GRIEVE
BUT THE SUITS PACK THE HOUSE LIKE IT WAS THE POPE
AN OCCASION OF DOUBT VANQUISHED ONLY BY HOPE.

IF NOTHING ELSE HE WAS A MAN OF HIS WORD
A LAST ACT OF FAITH AS HE LEFT THIS WORLD
THAT ALL WHO HAD FALLEN INTO HIS NET
WOULD BE FORGIVEN ALL OUTSTANDING DEBT.

FOR ALL THAT HAD KNOWN THE BUSINESS END OF HIS GUN
HAD CARRIED A BURDEN THAT NUMBERED IN TONNES
STARE AT THE CASKET IN WROUGHT DISBELIEF
FOR TODAY RESSURECTIONS FIT EVEN FOR THIEVES.