With The Paying Of My Respect Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Saddened and reflective,
On that day I had been.
Knowing too well and it made so obvious,
My life was enriched...
With rewarding memories.
Memories one day from me,
Would eventually leave.

When I had gone to attend,
The funeral of yet another...
Who also had common sense,
Used to not allow it to be abused...
With a paying of my respect.
I had noticed very few there grieving.
To have their heads bowed and in prayer.

And I wondered as I sat to look around.
How long would it be,
Before those unaware outside...
Continue to survive thriving to choose,
Ignorance as a way of life.
And made to decide to take that direction.

There I sat among the few who too knew,
And too well...
Common sense to experience it,
Whether abused, disrespected and deceived.
Was worth the sacrifice to keep it protected.
But would soon be gone from everyone's memory.
When it was remembered as a priority.
And everyone felt blessed to have kept it that way.

OH.
Those were the days my friends.
Who knew one day those days would end?

But today common sense has very few left,
To grieve its passing with a mourning done to do.
Or defend its appearance to not object,
To anyone who dares to remain...
In that frame of mind with it kept pursued.
To acknowledge it with it given,
All the respect it deserves.

Who knew common sense,
As an investment kept and meant...
Would leave so few grieving its absence.