psalm for the elks lodge inn

let the waitress put the chairs up

let the glasses that you broke

form a picture of our leader

with a halo made of smoke



let the golden oldies station

crackle and come through

with a final benediction

we'll hum along to

before we say goodnight



let our talk about the ball game

and the weather show we care

like a sound we didn't notice

until it stopped and left us there



with the traffic and our heartbeats

beating in straight time

let our hatred and affection

march in the same line

before we say goodnight



oh, protect our secret handshake

once more with feeling

let the toast to absent members

push through the ceiling

before we say goodnight

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