Life Slips

The days ebb away......................

Life Slips

Look at me;

no really look at me.

Look me in the eye

if you are unafraid

to seek the truth

and face it.

For here is my life,

here is my death,

spread before you.

Here lie my bones

rotting in this

sinner’s putrid flesh.

There is no pretty way

to say it,

no perfume spray

to mask the stink

of decay emanating from

my lapsed Catholic soul.

The sun will be setting soon

over a land of dark shadows

where I have been entombed

for far too many wasted years.

But please do not mourn

for me, for I celebrate.

I watch as the black of night approaches,

and will slip, relieved, into its warm bosom,

knowing you will see another dawn.

 

29/09/14

Author's Note

Reviews

[Terpsichore]

It's time that slips. Life just goes on, though unfortunately not ad infinitum.

T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah but in the process life itself slips from our grasp. Many thanks.

[Lydia Shutter]

Monumentally dark...and sad. Sometimes people are afraid to face the truth....afraid to understand that the world can not always be happy and see things through rose-colored glasses. The emotional pain is palpable throughout....to the nth degree. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Lydi. Was feeling dark not having heard from any of my kids for three weeks lol!

[Lydia Shutter]

Oh, that is so typical....especially if they are male children!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

That is sexist! Two are male one is female lol!

[Lydia Shutter]

No, not at all, John. I have seen the difference between sons and daughters. It is not 100%, but it is the norm. I hope you hear from one or all of them soon.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

My eldest is the best, HE says he is going to ring me tonight but I know he wants to ask my opinion about something lol When I left home at 19, I spoke to my mother every week until her death in 2003.

[Lydia Shutter]

You were a good son, John.

[Lyn Anderson]

This is dark, and wonderful, and I love it but I hate it, because it is a wonderful poem, but I feel for the writer too much.:)
One thing, lay should be lie if it is in the present tense, but, poetic license is yours entirely, of course.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you 'M' for such fulsome prise and such indulgence! And of course you are right about lay and lie!

[Rene Salinas]

Loved it John! simple as. The determination and the sincerity took me back I also did feel a bit of defiance but not sure if it is just me, I will have to go and that's that sort of thing. But the bit that impacted me the most is that horrble feeling for the ones you leave behind yet you share do not weep or mourn I am actually at peace with this.

Ashes to ashes.

Thankyou

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are most kind Rene, thank you.

[DIVYA]

You have captured the meaning of life really well in this poem John. The human spirit decays and is weighed under the burden of our sins and inequities. What better than to let go and slip away into the night and come back refreshed to another new dawn. Blessed is the man who knows this truth and welcomes death. A truly amazing write.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much for your kindness Divya.