Re-posting, as the first version kept re-starting in the middle of the line. This was a prompt for a will from Poets United. Please click on their link and read some other poets’ thoughts as well! And don’t worry – rumors of my impending demise are (hopefully) simply rumors!! But that dark humor runs in the Irish side of my family, and I embrace it heartily.
Last Words
These are the last words you will hear from me
as I have recently ceased to be
To my sisters, I leave my rainbow flags
To my parents, I leave forgiveness in bags
To Jack, pour the bourbon – I’m headed your way
To Sarah Palin, read a paper at least once a day
To RJ, Sheila and Colette, three copies pristine
a pic of my bum on a xerox machine
To John, all the books full of music and lyrics
To Leslie, the “Dead Man’s Eyes” hysterics
To Christopher, HAH! You thought I’d outlive you
Now whom shall you the baby grand give to?
And know that I’ll be in great company
With Jeffery and Jimmy and Bill and Marcie
To Marcia and Jesse, my thanks for the light
To Greggie, close your eyes and I’ll be in your sight
To Sweeney, my rants and my ravings and Lex
Your best buddy – don’t take him to Mme. Orr’s for sex
To GW Bush my wish for long life
to witness his hubris, his headstrong-caused strife
To Barack, prayers for peace and a tougher demeanor
To FEMA, that they FINALLY clean up Katrina
To elected officials, no more of my protests
But FBI, I’ll rally, in spirit at best
To Lex, all my love and may you find another
To Riley, long life and my pride I’m your mother
My girl, find someone who deserves all you can give
To challenge and cherish as long as you live
And after the tears have finally been shed
Remember, I’m dancing… I’m just overhead
So raise up a toast to the girl with the brass
Recount all the ways I’m a pain in the ass
Sing out the songs, pass ’round a doobie
I’m headed to heaven in slippers of ruby
(c) 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
I see you’ve been busy sharpening your pencil, Amy. May the days be many before this will goes to probate!
ViV
Sharp Little Pencil
God willin’ and the creek (“crick”) don’t rise…!
Kim Nelson
I catch my breath just a smidge when I see you’ve posted something new, Amy. I know I will be somehow galvanized. In this one you weave depth and levity with precision. FABULOUS!
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, thank you. I am truly honored that a writer such as yourself appreciates my work. Rock on! Amy
RJ Clarken
Hmmm…Sheila, Colette and I get Xeroxed pix of your bottom? hahahaha!
But seriously, may your LW&T not get to probate for a very, very long time. And when it does, I hope the Clerk, Judge or Surrogate gets a good laugh.
Sharp Little Pencil
There is even more to write, but yes, I felt the three Sisters Who Could Raise A Few Blisters deserved a view of my best side, LOL. And wait til you hear about my ideas for my funeral. Not in any hurry whatsoever, and thanks for agreeing with me on that point. Take care, my friend. Amy
Fireblossom
Ha! Love it. Especially the bit about Sarah Palin reading a paper once a day!
Sharp Little Pencil
That was written with several people in mind, including you, saucy girl! I knew you’d get a kick out of it. Wonder if she CAN read?
Paul Andrew Russell
Very nice poem, Amy. I love the humour in this.
‘To Jack, pour the bourbon – I’m headed your way
To Sarah Palin, read a paper at least once a day’
Great! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Jack Martin was my music teacher, also a professional jazzer who hooked folks like Clark Terry and Toots Theilmanns to guest star for free with our studio orchestra in an upstate New York high school. He taught me to appreciate Jack Daniels (which I later gave up, for the better) and remained a friend until the day he died.
As for Miss Sarah – don’t call her Gov., because she never completed a single term! What an audaciously nervy, uninformed, dangerous ditz…
Thanks, Paul. See you on your blog! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh this is so completely wonderful………..I too hope it is many decades before this comes to pass……..I loved all of your wishes, and the humor……and the truth……….good one, Amy!
Deborah
Wonderful … just wonderful!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Deborah, from my favorite little caterpillar lover!
Judy Roney
OMG, this is wonderful. I want to do another Last Will now. LOL I really loved this part, “And after the tears have finally been shed
Remember, I’m dancing… I’m just overhead” That’s just beautiful!
Sharp Little Pencil
Judy, thanks for the visit and the compliment on “Last Words.” The “dancing overhead part” actually harks back to a song I wrote for my dear friend Jeffery after his untimely death from AIDS. It’s called “The Day I Saw An Angel Fly,” and you can hear a bit of it at ITunes if you look up “Amy Barlow Liberatore.” It’s on my self-produced CD, “Jazz Baby Hits Her Stride,” and I have sung it at many World AIDS Day commemorations.
Go ahead and do another last will! I’d love to see it. I think I have a Bucket List poem in the making somewhere; that would be a good prompt, no? Amy
Sherry Irvine
Thanks for your email – I just got back from vacation – and was pleasantly surprised to hear from you. I love love love your piece…..especially the part about Sarah Palin and the part about passing the doobie 🙂 You put a lovely smile on my face today! xo
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, anytime I can make someone smile by dissing Sarah Palin is a pleasure (and of course, not Bogarting)! Hope your vacation was a blast… Peace, Amy