I happened upon this ode to Dale Earnhardt and just wanted to share this with all of you, fans or not. ____________________________________________________________________

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the sound of the roaring crowd.

I am the engines cackling aloud.

I am the flags in the furling air.

I am the official with the glassy stare.

I am the dew on the infield grass.

I am the cars making a pass.

I am the quiet at raceday's end.

I am the one who calls you "FRIEND".

I am the smile on the young child's face.

I am the green flag starting the race.

I am the prayer at dawn's early light.

I am the fans that scream with delight.

I am the pit crew working all day.

I am the pace car leading the way.

I am the rain that delays the start.

I am the people who live in your heart.

I am the dream you each hold inside.

I am just a driver, gone for a ride.

I was a man, not hero or king.

Now I am part of most everything.

So do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 21, 2001

Answers

This is the most beautiful piece I’ve read in many years. Please excuse me, I think there is something in my eye.

-- NASCAR (r@cing.fan), February 21, 2001.

Barry,

Thanks for sharing.

Dale will be missed.

A Fan.

-- JD (Southeastern@my_deja.com), February 21, 2001.

Definitely something in my eyes here.

Thanks, Barry; beautiful piece. He will be missed.

-- sniff, sniff :-( (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), February 21, 2001.

Nice poem but it wasn't written as an ode to Dale Earnhardt. I don't know how old it is but it was used at my grandfather's funeral in 1979.

-- Alice in Wonder Bra (alice@wonder.bra), February 21, 2001.

I am the 8th grade dropout moron,

Too damn stupid to keep my helmet on.

-- Dale Dumbass (mister @ macho. moron), February 21, 2001.

Alice, I did not mean to imply that this had specifically been ‘written’ for Dale, but it was used as an ode to him in an article I happened upon. Was your Grandfather a racer?

To the simple-minded piece of waste above, I offer this ‘ode’:

With narrowed eyes I read your post

Another scum-bag no-name ghost

I’d offer sums of serious cash

To get my hands on your sorry ass

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 22, 2001.

Sorry friend, though you talk real tough,

my ass no fag will ever touch.

Exactly how much cash are you offerin,

to let me help you find your coffin?

You're as dumb as Dale, and very gay.

You may need help to find your way!

So I wonder, will you come to call,

or will you drive into a wall?

Bwaaaahaaahaaahahahahaa!!!

-- Duuuuh, (i'm @ tough. guy!), February 22, 2001.

Wrong audience Barry. We've a crop of true losers around here. Not most of course. Most here have, to their credit, kept silent on a subject foreign to them. The cretins crawl out. The miserable little pieces that wouldn't put their life on the line for anything including themselves. Squirmy little shits that'll never understand value of feeling 182 on dirt or 30 plus knots heeled so tight. Silly little people.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 22, 2001.

Yeah, you guys are TOUGH!!

Dumb, but TOUGH, dammit!

-- hooya! (we @ so. macho!), February 22, 2001.