LAST SERVICES

Fear sat with me while I was sick,
Held my hand, sang to me,
Gave me spoonfuls of broth,
Told me stories. Later,
It put pennies on my eyes,
An obol in my mouth
And a twenty dollar gold piece
In my suit pocket so my friends
Knew I died standing pat.
During the service, Fear
Smoked a cigarette,
Stretched out on my coffin
And fell asleep.