Clouds obscure the sky
I walk to the side of the road,
Joining the gathering crowd
Lining the streets to pay their respects to the fallen hero
The rough wood of my flag pole digs into my palms
As I hold it high to honor this brave man
Who died only because he did his job
Died in the line of duty
The crowd tenses as the first flashing lights of the procession come into sight
Police cars drive slowly
Flanking the cars that drive his sobbing family to the funeral
Fat raindrops begin to fall from the sky
As if God Himself is crying
The first few cars are already out of sight
But more keep coming around the corner
In a stream of red and blue lights
Police from towns close by
And far off
Proceed to the church to honor this hero
Tears well up in my eyes
As I wonder why this had to happen
Why this man had to die pointlessly
The last few cars drive out of sight
And the crowd goes back indoors
Sighing over this loss of life