I met Death in a living room,
when I was pushed, pulled through a door
to cold cheek of my grandfather
and thought all was lost to me, forevermore.
I could not bear to be left alone
without his constant cheer and warm hand
and I was too young to know of life
before and after this harsh land.
I experienced Death’s visit, after a brutal bleed
when no time nor space was central this of earth,
nor sound so beautiful as hum I felt and heard
as I spiraled out from the place of birth.
But, the hand that reached to me, was one I knew,
such comfort as he drew me near with neither flesh nor bone,
and I was given choice to stay or return
to seven children I could not bear to leave alone.
I felt Death know my grief to leave that place,
for often I had wished for such, but had no choices then.
I made my promises and meant each one
and without mouth nor voice, no prayer to amen,
my promise to serve him for the rest of my life
was accepted and I returned to physical pain
I had never felt before, and I have had much
and never would want to again.
I know death for its beautiful release from woe,
scanned the sad body I’d left behind
and knew no solace in my return from that time
except to know by heart and soul and mind
that this life is hard and we choose every moment we live
to do that thing that makes us worth His time
to allow us to stay a moment longer;
for what He has need of, is that I do one thing divine.
I am death, in my comings and goings; new beginnings and ends
on a path that knows no line; a destiny I provide
and some long ago elder once prayed for such as me
to come until I have completed their need. I can not decide
when I am done in, or not, or whether I give up
because I think this all too difficult to go through.
My only fear is how I’ll go, what kind of fate I must accept
when my checks and balances, of promises made, come due.
Author notes
'Tis absolutely my truth and knowing.
jpg, me as a child 1952, during congetive heart failure 2000, and woman of the pots, that I aspire to be, returning home.
In a list
A contest entry
- Death and the Light at the End by Oleander.
1000 points, ended December 14, 2007, 13 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Damn but you have a way with language woman! Bookmarked - because it is going to take me weeks to absorb all the brilliant fragments therein
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oh you are such a good friend to my poetry.... ty so much.
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No. You have that the wrong way around dear heart
Your poetry is such a good friend to me!
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I am hoping one day to possess such strength in my musings. Your words are powerful in all that I have read. And I have nothing but admiration for your work so far. I am a new fan, for sure...
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ty Ithica. I really try to change things up so I do not get caught in a stagnate whirlpool of same words, phrases, themes and ways of writing.
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Great take on the prompt this is very well written, Did exactly what the lady wanted. This poem is kinda long but you hold the reader's attention throughout. Excellent work, And good luck with it.
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Yes poovy, it is long...
but so is life sometimes.
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excellent, powerful indeed...
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ty
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this write touched me deeply...tis life you chose!
"I am death, in my comings and goings; new beginnings and ends on a path that knows no line:
Carol this is supremely enlightening! -
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ty lady...we think of death in such lienar fashion..when all along it has different depths.
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Inspirational
This poem is so powerful. It is passionate and I was so delighted to read this. I'm glad to have such a poem of strength in the contest. Thankyou for entering your poem.
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ty so much for the silver trophy, and the reason to remember why I am still here and still doing the things I promised to do.
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