FRONTLINE | The Undertaking | Excerpt: "Tract" | PBS

Enter the world of Thomas Lynch, a poet and an undertaker, whose family for three generations has cared for both the living and the dead in a small Michigan town. In this scene from "The Undertaking," coming October 30, 2007 to PBS, Lynch reads a passage from his essay "Tract," an imagining of the direction of his own funeral.

"Tract" is an essay from Lynch's book "The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade." To watch more video previews from "The Undertaking," read how Lynch came to write the essay "Tract," and background information on the making of the documentary, visit http://www.pbs.org/frontline/undertaking/ .
Watch "The Undertaking" on air and online beginning Tuesday, October 30, 2007 on PBS and at http://www.pbs.org/frontline.

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[caudfranco]

Thomas Lynch is the kind of funeral director I want taking care of me. He is a man of honor, great words. The funeral profession should be honored to have him and the rest of the Lynch family in the profession. Blessings.

[FinalOptions]

As a funeral director, I am pleased to see what should be a realistic show about a funeral home....rather than those fake ones that have been on these past few years.....I know this family to be genuine-professionals from the few times we have met at various meetings......congrats and good luck.

Michael Neal-PA

[grobbledonk]

This excerpt looks curious - his voice as warm and wistful as on his Colloquies. We've become largely anaesthetized to our present time. I personally am possessed by the thought of when I'll cease measurably to be, and those whom I love. Death is what makes life urgent.

[adarkenedmind]

That's really gotta be a hard job.

My great uncle is a funeral director.. he owns his own funeral home. They did my grandfather's funeral and he looked really good.. very emotional, though.

They see a lot of pain in their lives, though.. it's hard to do if you're super empathetic, i'm sure.