Professional Mourner

For heartbreak and the loss of love,
           For doubts and droughts and wars,
We heard a mournful keening rise
           And found that it was ours.

For children hurt and dying young,
           Lost youth, and wasted years,
We washed our days in sorrow
           Our nights in bitter tears.

We watched the darkness gather;
           Storm clouds filled the sky.
We saw the hope extinguished
           Without the which we die.

We fell to earth and rent our robes.
           We beat our breasts and cried.
We heaped up ashes on our heads,
           And then one day we died.

The final tragedy was done.
           We think we earned our pay.
And now we've queued for wages
           At the gates of Judgment Day.