Jumping Ship With Me and My Sheepskin

If you die old

If you die alone -

Very alone
 

The County sends

The Meat Truck.
 

They shovel up

Your lifetime's stuff,
Into garbage bags
And a computer numbered bin -

Nothing personal,
Nor shame nor sin.

Then the lawyers will take a slice

And even an extra helping or two -
 
Albeit, better he or she
Than a greedy relative

That never gave a fiddle for you. 
 
 Well, at least the Sheepskin -

 Which reads  " With Great Distinction "
 Now cast into cyberspace,
 Will illicit from the Gods
 Perhaps a nod, or a wink or two -

How's that for an irony of denouement -

How's that for a few lines of adieu?

 

And the crew of gleaners

Will mock with laughter

An old man's sad trappings -
 

His tarnished house and cache

Of sentiment and pictures

From the hay days -

And framed in the sepia
Of the long ago.

 

And then the loose coins

And a mother's gold locket
Slip, with a pence or two

Into the usual pocket.

I tell you, brother

The best plan

To beat the Reapers -

Get aboard your sailboat
And take the duffel bag

With all your special stuff,

Head for the Last Horizon

And standing on the Bow

With steel and steady heart
 

Jump into the sea

With the loving arms

Of Yahweh and Eurydice

Awaiting there for thee.

Or, more simply sayable -

Take a drink

Take a pee

And jump into the sea.