Granny McSloy's Passing

April 2nd: Granny McSloy's Passing

I was thirteen at the time and I remember it well,
Ma was busy making cups of tea for the women,
And all the men were having a drink,
Yet for all the activity it was, still, very peaceful.

Her's was the first dead body I'd ever seen,
I didn't want to look at my Granda, the last time,
Football was a much more attractive proposition,
But now there was no choice, the ba had burst.

My Uncle Jimmy took us through to see her,
"C'mon and I'll show ye the stiff" he said,
Ma cried at this and Da went berserk,
But nothing happened, it wasn't his fault.

He'd suffered a bang on the head in an industrial accident,
And although it was years ago, he was never the same after that,
So he took us through to her room, Edward and I, and
I'll never forget that moment as long as I live.

Granny McSloy lay there at peace with herself, quiet,
And I thought about her being with my Granda at long last,
I felt Edward tug my arm and I turned to see what was up,
Jim had his trousers at his ankles showing us the boils on his legs.

Unperturbed he told us about a John Wayne film he liked,
And about how he's always wanted to be a cowboy,
At that moment I swear I heard my Granny shout,
"Would somebody tell that daft bugger tae shut up!"