One Night in a Grave

I got permission to post this poem so I thought I'd repost the drawings to go with it. Thanks Ted.





One Night in a Grave

I had a job that kept me late
And the way back home was scary.
It skirted to the edge of town
Then through the cemetery.

It wasn’t bad, I told myself.
The path was quite well traveled.
I sang a whistled little tunes
To keep my senses raveled.

One moonless night as I rushed along
Humming a nervous tune,
I fell into a hole they’d dug
For a grave that afternoon!

I panicked at the very thought
And scrambled to get out!
But the fresh, damp earth just crumbled in;
I commenced to scream and shout!

Then reason ruled and I settled down
Resigned to bear my fate.
They’d soon be back to fill the hole.
I’d not have long to wait.

As I sat back and went to doze
And in the silence waited,
Another fellow tumbled in
And he was inebriated!

I smiled as he fussed and clawed and failed
The same as I had done.
He didn’t see me in the dark.
He thought he was all alone.

I touched his arm and softly said
“You’ll never make it buddy.”
“There’s no way out so just relax.”
“You’ll just get spent and muddy.”

But I was wrong! He gasped a breath
And shouted “Lord forbid!”
His frame uncoiled a mighty leap
And make it he truly did!

© Ted C. Hindmarsh
November, 1978