Father Time met pale King Death
Sittin’ by a tomb
“Hello, old friend, I guess you’re here
To seal somebody’s doom.”
“You might say that,” Sly Death replied
A smile slid up his face.
“Inside lies in repose that Jesus man
Who said He’d save the race.”
“And you, Time, why you stoppin’ here?
Don’t you have things to do?”
Father Time said, “I come each day to draw the veil
and let the morning through.”
Time said, “Say you watchin’ jus’ one grave,
With all your vast domain?
Looks like you’d be out ramblin’ round
An’ smitin’ folk with pain.”
“Well,” Death said, “this one’s something special;
He challenged me, they say,
Said He’d rest here just three days
then stir and walk away.”
“Now I’m the Conqueror, you know,
They don’t talk up to me
When I steps in to cut ‘em down,
It’s for eternity.”
“I sure can testify to that,”
Responded Father Time,
“I ain’t seen one shake off the dust
Since you been in your prime.”
“Well,” said Father Time, “I got other things to do,
I must be on my way,
I’ll see you when I come back by
To make another day.”
So whiskered Time when up the hill
To bid the sun to rise
And left Death standin’ by the tomb
Lookin’ strong an’ wise.
Next day, Time ambled by again,
“An’ how are things?” he queried.
“Kinda quiet,” Death replied
“I’m startin’ to be wearier.”
“I wont be here when you come by
About this time tomorrow,
I’m anxious to be on my way
An’ spread some grief and sorrow.”
Now Father Time was quite surprised
When he came back to see
Death a-quiverin’ on the ground
In frightful agony!
His eyes were set, his throat was marked
His clothes in disarray.
It wasn’t difficult to see
That Death had had his day.
“What happened, Death?” asked Father Time,
“What makes you look so bad?”
“I’ve never seen you shake this way
Or seem so scared and sad.”
Death pulled himself up on a rock
A-lookin’ sick and humble.
He hung his head an’ wrung his hands
And Time could hear him mumble.
King Death said, “I was sittin’ here before the dawn,
About to take a stroll,
When all at once this whole wide world
Began to reel and roll.”
“That rollin’ stone jumped off the door
An’ skipped on down the hill.
Then everything grew dark and quiet,
Seemed like the earth stood still.
“I saw Him standin’ in the door
He didn’t move or speak
Just looked at me an’ all at once
I felt so tired and weak.
“He come and got a hold on me
An’ threw me to the ground
Put His foot here on my neck
Then took my keys and crown.
“Two angels came to talk with Him,
They glistened like the sun.”
He said, “The plan’s all finished now,
Redemption’s work is done.
“As they passed the garden gate
I heard Him say, just then,
He’s settin’ free the captives,
And giving gifts to men.”
Time and Death met once again
Off yonder by the gate,
“It’s good to see you,” said Old Time,
I’ve wondered ‘bout your fate.”
Old Death replied, “I’m just a lowly servant now,
There’s little time to roam.
I just push open this old gate,
And help the saints get Home!”