The keys played by the pianist faded As feet shuffled to their seats I could hear folks mumbling about their grief I couldn’t smell the room of fresh flowers Only acknowledged that they were there And stared at the arrangement Numb Shock this day had come The first to arrive was me Even though seats weren’t assigned I knew which one was mine In the front row at the funeral I thought I’ve sat here before For a similar occasion only this time without you to console me Cautious not to break I sat ever so still As the front row filled all around me. Your Mother, father, and step parents Sister, brothers, niece & nephews And me of-course Paying the high cost of respect. I hadn’t planned to cry I decided I would play it by ear But some how knew the tears Would get away from me. In the front row of the funeral I was unaware of the hundreds behind me. It was a task just to breathe I had never felt pain to this degree. From the front row The worst seat I heard the pastor read “Held, beheld, beloved”!