Tract

I will teach you          my townspeople

how to perform          a funeral —

for you have it          over a troop

of artists—

unless one should          scour the world —

you have the ground sense          necessary.

See! the hearse leads.

I begin with          a design for a hearse.

For Christ's sake          not black —

nor white either —          and not polished!

Let it be weathered —          like a farm wagon —

with gilt wheels          (this could be

applied fresh          at small expense)

or no wheels at all:

a rough dray to          drag over the ground.

Knock the glass out!

My God-glass,          my townspeople!

For what purpose?          Is it for the dead

to look out or          for us to see

how well he is housed          or to see

the flowers or          the lack of them —

or what?

To keep the rain          and snow from him?

He will have a          heavier rain soon:

pebbles and dirt          and what not.

Let there be no glass —

and no upholstery          phew!

and no little          brass rollers

and small easy wheels          on the bottom —

my townspeople          what are you thinking of?

A rough          plain hearse then

with gilt wheels          and no top at all.

On this          the coffin lies

by its own weight.

                  No wreathes please —

especially no          hot house flowers.

Some common memento          is better,

something he prized          and is known by:

his old clothes —          a few books perhaps —

God knows what!          You realize

how we are          about these things

my townspeople —

something will be found —          anything

even flowers          if he had come to that.

So much for          the hearse.

For heaven's sake though          see to the driver!

Take off          the silk hat! In fact

that's no place          at all for him —

up there          unceremoniously

dragging our friend out          to his own dignity!

Bring him down —          bring him down!

Low and inconspicuous!          I'd not have him ride

on the wagon at all —          damn him —

the undertaker's          understrapper!

Let him hold          the reins

and walk          at the side

and inconspicuously          too!

Then briefly          as to yourselves:

Walk behind —          as they do in France,

seventh class, or          if you ride

Hell take curtains!          Go with some show

of inconvenience;          sit openly —

to the weather          as to grief.

Or do you think          you can shut grief in?

What — from us?          We who have perhaps

nothing to lose?          Share with us

share with us —          it will be money

in your pockets.

                              Go now

I think you are          ready.