At Myke's Weblog, I found this version of a poem cited by Fred First at Fragments from Floyd. As at least one of my friends is a firm believer in reincarnation, this post is an addendum to When We Die (which I should have titled "When I Die"!) The rest of this posting is from Myke.
Reincarnation by Wallace McRae
"What does Reincarnation mean?"
A cowpoke asked his friend.
His pal replied, "It happens when
Yer life has reached its end.
They comb yer hair, and warsh yer neck,
And clean yer fingernails,
And lay you in a padded box
Away from life's travails."
"The box and you goes in a hole,
That's been dug into the ground.
Reincarnation starts in when
Yore planted 'neath a mound.
Them clods melt down, just like yer box,
And you who is inside.
And then yore just beginnin' on
Yer transformation ride."
"In a while, the grass'll grow
Upon yer rendered mound.
Till some day on yer moldered grave
A lonely flower is found.
And say a hoss should wander by
And graze upon this flower
That once wuz you, but now's become
Yer vegetative bower."
"The posy that the hoss done ate
Up, with his other feed,
Makes bone, and fat, and muscle
Essential to the steed,
But some is left that he can't use
And so it passes through,
And finally lays upon the ground
This thing, that once wuz you."
"Then say, by chance, I wanders by
And sees this upon the ground,
And I ponders, and I wonders at,
This object that I found.
I thinks of reincarnation,
Of life and death, and such,
And come away concludin': 'Slim,
You ain't changed, all that much
from Cowboy Curmudgeon (1992)
via Fred1st
Now that's a sonnet!
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie | October 27, 2005 at 09:29 PM
So cute. And in a strange way, so true.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | October 28, 2005 at 06:34 PM
Err... couldn't this have been titled Recycling? To me reincarnation is the continuation of the spirit after the death of the clay in which the spirit has been inprisoned. Life continues, the spirit is reborn into another body. Lessons are learnt and the spirit can grow through the many lives lived.
It is something I believe in absolutely and passionately.
Posted by: Adele | October 29, 2005 at 04:39 AM
Not being a cowboy poet, I'll have to say that I agree with Adele about the title to the poem. Too, I hope that no one is offended by this poem which I find entertaining. Adele, counting you, I have at least two friends who are firm reincarnationists. (Not to mention names, but my lurking Elegant Friend is the other.)
Posted by: Cop Car | October 29, 2005 at 05:14 PM
CopCar, I agree the poem is entertaining. I was just commenting on the title, which didn't did not to me seem to have the right title.
Everyone has their own beliefs. Mine includes reincarnation, like your Elegant Friend. Not something I talk about much - none of my family holds the same beliefs.
Posted by: Adele | November 01, 2005 at 03:41 AM
I too am a strong believer in Reincarnation and still found this to be funny. There is a town near here that has a Cowboy Poet day. There are some good ones out there. Thanks for a hoot!
Posted by: Maria | November 02, 2005 at 01:35 PM