Burn Me On The Pile

By Donovan Leuba

In this poem the author tries to show the absurdity of the American tradition of burial. He then goes on to refute the Christianized pagan practices and he trivializes this usually solem subject. The author caters to his suspected audiance who knows about ranching in the Texas area. One may infer that the animal was euthenized but that is not implied. He uses this as a bridge to the human experience. The official will do the obvious and say "He is dead" and the mortician will do what everyone expects. There are always some members of the family who will not agree to the wishes of the deceased and who are so restrained by tradition that they are rigidly opposed any other idea. A view of life which celebrates a life instead of mourns it is a central theme. The poem will be read by the author. 

Burn Me On The Pile 

Outback Texas has tradition; It's been there for awhile.
They clean their lots of brush and trees and drag it to a pile.
They burn it on a soggy day and add kerosine and some hay.
And before three suns have made their day.
The piled decay has gone away. 

Well, just last year my horse so dear in mud he did slip
He gashed his leg, hurt his neck, and I think he broke his hip.
The horse was old and weak; and past one hundred years
And to see him ache, my horse named Jake, brought heart pain and some tears.

But looking 'round this rocky ranch, digging a hole was not a chance
And knowing the stink would cover a mile I had to burn Jake on the pile. 

O' burn me on the pile sweet loved ones, just burn me on the pile
If you think alot of me, set me free (for free). Just burn me on the pile. 

The coronor is waiting patiently to tell you that I'm dead
And the mortician wants to do his thing and keep his family fed.
Don't buy me a box with gold plated latches to make the lid not slip
Just buy some "strike anywhere" matches, a car and a vacation trip.
Don't give me embalming fluid though I drank stronger stuff in my day
And don't put my body  in the ground, cause I'm headed the other way.

If you want to see a mummy, go visit ole King Tut
Don't even display me upside down so people can kiss my .................
So, don't mourne for me at all that day and tell alot of lies.
You'll get on with your own life now if you're the least bit wise. 

O' burn me on the pile sweet loved one, just burn me on the pile
If you think alot of me, set me free (for free). Just burn me on the pile. 

When the family do-gooder begins to fuss and scoff
Get them out of my old tool shed; just go on and run 'em off.
For the Lord and I see eye-to-eye and I'm already on good terms
And I can't think that when I die, I'll be eaten by the drunken worms. 

O' burn me on the pile sweet loved ones, Just burn me on the pile
If you think alot of me, set me free (for free). Just burn me on the pile. 
 
Just like a bar-b-que, Texas style, just burn me on the pile.