The Day that Time would Stop!

The passageway was longer than he thought

He would have said,

It seemed to go forever,

But the words stayed in his head.

That drumming in his ears was surely

Just the lack of sound,

And could it be, he floated,

With his feet just off the ground?

 

The ambulance had called for him at just

On half past three,

He’d told his wife: ‘Don’t bother,

It will go away, you’ll see!’

His wife was more determined than she’d

Ever been before,

She dialled up on her mobile

And she waved him, at the door.

 

‘It’s all just fuss and bother, this,’ he thought,

And flushed quite red,

The fellow in the ambulance

Looked grim, and shook his head.

He tried to give him oxygen, then

Called out to his mate:

‘You’d better put your foot down,

Or we might be there too late!’

 

He felt the lurch of speed, and heard the

Sirens start to wail,

He only felt embarrassment,

‘Such fuss! Beyond the pale!’

But then the light had faded in the

Middle of the day,

And that was when he found himself

Deep in that passageway!

 

The light became much brighter, at the end

He saw a door,

It slowly started opening,

He couldn’t see much more,

But then he floated through it, standing

Stark within this room

Filled wall to wall with flowers that

Had just begun to bloom!

 

He stood there for a moment, he could not

Believe his eyes,

A crowd of happy people jumped

On out, and yelled: ‘Surprise!’

Then streamers and balloons appeared

And tangled round his feet,

He stared at them in wonder as

His heart had ceased to beat!

 

His father stood there grinning, he had died

Before his time

While his mother wiped a tear away,

She’d left when he was nine,

And all the aunts and uncles from

His distant memories,

Now stood and charged a glass to him,

And smiled, and shouted: ‘Cheers!’

 

‘He doesn’t know what’s happened, give him time,’

Said Uncle Ron,

‘We’re just so glad to see you - My!

The weight that you’ve put on!

You must have seen it coming, all

That pain before you drop;

It’s common to us all, you know,

The Day that Time would Stop!’

 

He paused to think about his wife, and

Wondered if she cried,

Or simply shrugged her shoulders when

She heard that he had died,

The heart that he no longer had

He knew would never mend;

He stood erect and dignified -

A funeral to attend!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Dayran]

You seem to find yourself in the strangest places, David, this time on the other side. But I recall a fateful day when I came inches close to a truck that sped by at about 60 kph. I was young and it shook me to the roots and held me in a vice for the next few days, until I read something similar to your piece here and felt it lift the somber in my mood.

I don't know how much comfort that is to the recently deceased in your account. I hate to think how he might be born again that way and one day rush back to the wife with the mobile with an excuse that might sound like ' Sorry honey, the hospital took longer than I had thought.'

[TL Boehm]

Beautiful, hopeful treatment of the inevitable. It made me smile. Your words have their own lift.
Wonderful poetry.

[Amila Jay]

Always beautiful. An excellent write :))

[John Ambury]

Excellent work, David! I'm just getting used to your fine work -- have seen your perfect structure when you choose that, and interesting to see your skill with something freer as well. A personal preference if I may -- the witing and story are so strong that the exclamation points (except in the quotes) seem to detract rather than add -- ?

[...]

Sir, your poetry all stories magnificently portrayed!

[Tate Morgan]

I think we all wonder on this and if our dreams could make reality we would want it this way

[BlueDreams]

Its really a great piece .. Intriguing one.. :-)

[Kristallo]

"It's common to us all you know; the day that time would stop." I just love that line! This is exceptional, the story that unfolds is captivating, and your writing style is as usual of you- flawless. :) I always thoroughly enjoy your poetry, it is a gift at the end of a tedious day to immerse myself in such exquisitely written musings. Great work!