Wake

Nothing is for ever.

Wake

Banish me from the living

in dusty memories

of rooms you grew up in

but have since neglected.

The trappings of a lifetime

are so easily packed

and you cannot wait to

get it done.

My precious things

simply junk

or for the high street

charity shop.

Separate me from my past

for the truth is

we own nothing,

even our skin is rented.

 

21/04/15

Author's Note

Inspired by Ian McEwan's novel 'Saturday'

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

Nothing is forever and anything you have, you can't take with you. But memories are like possessions, sometimes you can't give em away but bonfires are good especially if you saw the Wicker Man movie with Christopher Lee. Nice write John

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Andrew.

[W.k.kortas]

Very tight and valedictory; something with subject matter such as this can go off the rails emotionally very, very easily, but you've navigated that tightrope very nicely, indeed.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks

[Lyn Anderson]

Dark, gloomy, introspective. Well done, if more than a bit depressing.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Although I find myself in the position of having brought my two children up with their mother leading the high life elsewhere and they now live with her in London, this was stimulated by Ian McEwans novel 'Saturday' when he is reflecting on his mother's imminent death.

[Kelly Scheppers]

"even our skin is rented"

This gave me visions of souls fleeting for the cosmic world, boundless and soaring toward the sky. How staggeringly true for the allotted time we are here! A most glorious awakening, John!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes we are only here on vacation! Thank you Kelly.

[Tom McRoberts]

I haven't read the novel, studied 'Enduring Love' during my A-levels so McEwan still suffers my exam loathing. A great piece, tells of our peculiar link with the material world and how we often become objects.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

'Enduring Love' was my first encounter with McEwan and I have never looked back. He is the most eloquent writer of the 21st century.

[Tom McRoberts]

It's certainly a magnificent book, I just got a little burnt out, aha!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

My kids gave me 'The Children Act' for Christmas and it was brilliant, his most recent. I had just finished 'Sweet Tooth' the only novel he wrote without years of research and it too was enjoytable but 'Saturday' is in a league of its own.

[Tom McRoberts]

I'll have to give them a look, once I've gotten through the pile I have next to me.

[~]

wow! this is very emotive. a plea to be separated from those memories that are living only within one person, but are dead and forgotten in the other's heart.

"clarity shop" I loved that phrase!!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you MS