This was inspired by the official book launch of Charlie Wilkins' new memoir: "In The Land of Long Fingernails -- A Gravedigger's Memoir". My thanks to Charlie, and to Penguin Canada.


A Gravedigger's Even Bigger Lift-Off
Oct 19 2008


I hear they’re launching books today.
And we’ve come to see the author off,
crammed into his white pneumatic suit —
even if his chair-bound paunch
and ample bum
take a little extra shove.
Then the visor clangs shut
and it’s thumbs-up, grinning,
ready for lift-off.

He will rocket up on a trail of fame
and adulation.
Or he might flame-out and come crashing back,
to critical disdain
and remainder bins.
But what the heck,
he’ll dig right in and take the risk.

And his crack team of loyal readers
will see him through,
buying books
for christenings and birthdays and funerals,
and burying the bad reviews.