All stood ‘round <br />The burying ground <br />Saying their goodbys. <br />Through misty tearful eyes. <br /> <br />An old neighbor happened to stay <br />For he had something else to say. <br />As we looked around <br />The hallowed burying ground. <br /> <br />Saying goodby isn't easy <br />Some say what will please ye, <br />While other's look away <br />Not looking you in the eye. <br /> <br />For in this one gone to ground, <br />All had found <br />Life too short <br />For his kind to abort. <br /> <br />The judge, who <br />Always seemed to know what to do. <br />Either for friend or foe <br />He always seemed to know. <br /> <br />Never a hard word <br />From him was heard. <br />As he studied the event <br />Before making a carefully worded judgement. <br /> <br />This one lingering here <br />Seemed intent to make his point clear. <br />Shuffling his feet to gain courage <br />He decided to make quick his charge. <br /> <br />'He and I never saw eye-to-eye, <br />Seemed he always could spot a lie <br />And yet never once used that as a point, <br />To his side, anoint.' <br /> <br />'He'll be gone fifty years from now <br />And it'll still be remembered how <br />He could always find a way <br />To bring reason to any day.' <br /> <br />'When I'm dead and gone <br />After the final song, <br />The crowd will drift away <br />And forget me forever on that very day.' <br /> <br />'I never thought of him as a friend <br />But on this day, I send <br />Him to his final resting place <br />Knowing the Judge will have no more trials to face.' <br /> <br />His crooked cane from a briar <br />Stands in the corner - there <br />Waiting. If he comes back again <br />He'll surely have a tale to spin <br />And just like before, <br />He'll make his point and more <br />So another can see <br />That that's the way it should be. <br /> <br />Albert to Mom, <br />Dad to the kids, <br />And 'Judge' to all.<br /><br />Sidi J. Mahtrow<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ballad-of-the-judge/
