The Tending of The Urns


Driving down the highways
As we are going out of state

A quick drive to see the kids
Hers mine and ours

We have been on the road now
For well over five hours

We stopped in a small town
In southern Wisconsin for flowers

People have always looked at me
In a strange way

Buying flowers for three
Their thoughts seem confused

As if they have never seen
A man buying so many at one time

This time my wife of ten years is with me
Going to visit the graves of half of my family

I wish I could tend it more often
As it is quite a long drive

But now we get a chance
To see two families, hers and mine

God has blessed us both as we stand together
Looking down on the three copper-toned

Markers, trimmed in scripted words of brass
Remembering David, Danny and Patricia who has passed last

Three of the most important people in my life
Standing there paying our respects

Me, my wife Betty Jean
Holding back the tears and the screams

We still have a long way to go
As we get back into our Van

Drive through the beautiful gardens
On our way to now visit

With her family one hundred miles away
We will be back dear ones

For I have promised to tend the urns
As often as I can, placing flowers

On the graves
Watering them one at a time

While talking to the wonderful family
That was once mine

© James Samdavid1 Fullington
April 18, 2002

Betty Jean and I drove 800 miles in two short days, to see her family and the rest of mine. God protected us and showed us the way. we will go back another day. SD1