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,
a cappella 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