The percentage keeps rising,

As cremation they choose,

And now I have a case

Of the cremation blues.

The visitations get shorter,

The church has empty pews,

Caskets and vaults sales

I’m certain to lose.

I don’t understand it,

I’ve paid my dues.

Holidays, nights and weekends,

With no time to snooze.

This was never a problem,

No one had a clue

How cremation would change

The things that we do.

Appointments to keep

As pre-needs I pursue,

And customers questioning

If my prices are true.

I am honest and caring,

Professional through and through,

Yet my income is dropping

From these cremation blues.

I show them their options

And honor their views.

I offer top value

For the service they choose.

My families all love me,

The repeats and the new,

Going beyond expectations

Is how my business grew.

Cremains fill my safe,

For the family flew

Back to their hometown

Before telling me what to do.

“The cemetery waits

To bury Uncle Walter with Aunt Sue

All I need now is

A decision from you.”

“Yes, the cemetery needs to be paid

In advance that is true,

But they’ll bring peace of mind

And a place to go when you’re blue.”

“Just throw them away?

Or scatter brother Stu?”

You think it won’t matter to them,

And it won’t matter to you.

I sigh very deeply,

As clearly I review

The consequence of their actions

And the ethics I imbue.

I would not want to walk

In any one else’s shoes

For funeral service is my passion

And I love what I do.

So let’s stop our whining,

Stop dreaming of taking a cruise

‘Cuz there’s no need to have

The cremation blues.