Interim documents were signed, but
The pages of The Agreement grew old and yellow
Waiting for signatures

One day,
All three of us signed our names
The wooden conference table was very high
It was like we were children again,
Elbows on the table,
Tongue stuck in the corner of your mouth

We were told not to use the same pen
Everyone use a different pen, please.
The air was quiet and of course there was
A grandfather clock, ticking and ticking
Shoes were very polished.

Line your shoes up straight before you go to bed
Keep your hands outside the covers
Paper made that slick whispering sound
Page after page after page, all legal size.

Legal size for us was thirty-five years ago or more
At that point, in the signing room
Both our parents were now dead
We had simple memorials, their lives were explained
Now everyone please stand and sing Amazing Grace

Our parents are gone, but they abide
Just like everyone says
Close the gate behind you.