A Solitary Passing

...........out of quarantine today.. wanted to write happy because.. I am but these words came to me .. maybe not as dark as they might seem ..... maybe ..

A Solitary Passing

 

No doubt

the flies will come for me today

they are always hungry, aren’t they

and since I have not moved for hours

they will surely

all begin to congregate accordingly

Yes, take note …

 

All these

new breaths of mine

are taken deliberately and shallow

For these are dark times, and anyway

Beside the flies

there are no lovers, friends or neighbours

left to mourn this most solitary of passing’s ….

Author's Note

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Something has died in your garden. You have been out there early to check following recent stormy weather and downing of trees. I hope it isn't a badger. Maybe it is a bird. Whatever it is these words are sad and there is a sorrow in your heart for a living creature that has now passed. I feel that too Neville. It makes us ponder on our own mortality.

Just adding, as you go out and about after your recent illness, make sure you wear your mask and wash yer hands will ya.

There is something really touching about a solitary passing. A lone death is the saddest of all. Not another living creature to bid a fine farewell. Now that is cold.

Chris

[Neville]

Neva fear Chris .. I have a supply of hand sanitizer the size of an oxygen cylinder strapped to me back ... No wonder I thought people were staring at me .... I have checked but not found any corpses yet ... too dark to check the top garden .. I will let ya know but in the meantime.. thanks for sharing my feelings on dying alone ....

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

"Maybe not as dark as they may seem" . So I didn't think it would be another war dead poem. Creature corpses not quite as horrific. Neva mind, you can't win them all. Pleased you are using plenty of hand sanitizer though. Dying alone is the pits and plenty of people have done that this year. Isolated from their loved ones.

[Neville]

.............. it certainly dont appal me :)

[Neville]

I meant appeal to me :)) need a new keyboard I fink

[Chris Shaw]

I did wonder :))

[Neville]

............... its my spelling that is appalling
:)

[barleygirl]

When you write "out of quarantine" . . . it boggles my mind . . . I lost track of social-distancing norms here in California, forget about around the world! Even tho I'm aware of this pandemic (how can we NOT be?) I have not felt these restrictions that other people describe since my life has had it's own restrictions for years, which I've come to embrace. I didn't like people that much anyway & this just gives me the freedom to act on my hostilities. Yes, it is hard to write something upbeat . . . even when we intend to throw down some happy words, somehow everything gets that covid warp! (((BENDS))) Fondly, Margie

PS . . . all covid issues aside, this is a damn good poem just for the fun of it! Makes me wish I'd taken my fly-obsessed writing to this corner of bizarre . . .

[Neville]

Hey Margie.. between you and me, I wrote this just for the fun of it on the day I was released from quarantine after 14 days at the whim of our government for daring to travel out of the UK to a country that has virtually no cases of Covid-19 (MASKS) firmly, Neville

[barleygirl]

These days, everything is fraught with danger! On FB, a friend posted a meme listing what democrats (liberals) want from a well-functioning country. Sarcastically, I wrote a comment: "yeah, those commie pinko f****t liberals!" I got quarantined by FB for my hate speech! I guess sarcasm is no longer socially acceptable. AI cannot distinguish between hate & sarcasm!

[Neville]

........... in a world of extremes, that is extremely irritating (DICKS) fondly .. Neville

[Fay Slimm]

Dark times evoke solitary passings with flies waiting for scent of welcome - -- a write to ponder on as quarantine isolates - - take special care wont you mon ami ............. x Fay

[Neville]

absolutely Fay .. nothing to worry about on that score ...

:)

[alanwgraham]

OMG Neville. I've just realised that my stories often confuse because I write in first person. If this is your experience it must be scary. The flies will come for me today is a brilliant but chilling line. Platitudes come easy but I wish you a full recovery. You have been a great support and encouragement to me so many thanks.
I hope to hear good news!
Cheers,
Alan

[Neville]

Hi Alan, no need to worry my friend .. I had seasonal flu which hit me hard .. only ever had it once before ... Now on the mend ... Many thanks for checking in .. and on me ..

Neville :)

[Lorry]

In confinement, try and stop thoughts turning to reflecting on the year to end em all and what will follow.
We reflect on the solitude and if this will be the new normal and how effortlessly its fickle hand can touch us all.
As I mentioned in recent post, do give self isolating and worrying about colleagues infected in helping my mind quieten. A surreal time, within a surreal time, with as yet, no expiration date. It's a bloomin' wonder we have any semblance of sanity left to write such words... Wibble!

[Neville]

thank you Loz .. I could not have puddled it better ..

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Then stop a while and pause to see what life has set before thee....

[Neville]

Yes.. maybe it is time to pause, reflect and consider what lies ahead .... always best to keep options open .. maybe .... Hello & thanks Kelly .. Hope you are safe n well my friend :)

[Einstein Noodle]

a bit of a strange "happy" expression my friend ;) instead rather somber .. these can be dark times no doubt .. and flies have a tendency to collect on bodies not in motion ..and in a broader sense, like the tin man, economies are going to need some oiling to get back into the game ... blessings on you my friend! i remain hopeful .. we are fragile creatures built tough ... did you know the heart has 5 back up systems in place that will keep it beating? ... i believe a sound vaccine is almost ready and i think truth be told ..the stats on covid are skewed from the start and i think we have a good bit of herd immunity already ... but .. i have been wrong too many times .. maybe it is the apocalypse :O ..i like the title .. i relate to it right away .. and i like the analogy with the flies ..sparks my imaginations .. and i like the first person narrative .. makes it real sir .. Slainte mhath! ;)
E.

[Neville]

Ha .. I get you Gene .. happy because I am no longer in quarantine and can leave the confines of my humble abode... and.. I am feeling much better after my recent bout of seasonal flu which nocked me for six ....

I love that saying .. 'we are fragile creatures built tough' ..
I hope a vaccine will be found soon too .. however am inclined to believe this whole covid thing is far more serious than some are presently inclined to believe ...

Slainte mhath brother :)

N.

[Einstein Noodle]

respect brother! i did not know you were feeling the flu! and confined to home ... yes .. joyous you are set free!! keep keeping it safe my brother!

[Neville]

........................... and back at ya :)