Against the Dying of the Light

Older Poem, Suprized I never uploaded it

He ran a hand through his thinning hair
As he sat up to talk to me.
I’d just barely met him,
But he spoke so freely.
He had seen all in the world that there was to see.

In his life,
So much had changed,
But so much had stayed the same.
Computers came, and then they shrank.
The Beatles came and went.
Men lived and men died.
Love killed a few
And saved some more.
Children still shirked their chores,
And despite how much peace there was,
Countries still found some reason to war.

I lifted him, elbows locked.
Lifted him from the bed.
Through fake plants and flowers, we walked.
I listened as he said…

“All of you kids are so young to die.
Some of you just march off to war.
The rest of you don’t care
To ask what it is even for.
Here at the end, I now see all there is to see.

And I for one.
I won’t leave softly.
I won’t go gently.
I’ll scream as I fly into the sun;
I’ll fight with what’s left of my heart.
Maybe you’ll be the start.
Won’t you be the start.
Have a heart.
Take part,
And give this dying apathy--
Give this dying world a chance.”

The day went on with a little talk
Of rap versus classic rock.
He spoke of concerts, and drugs, and of free love,
And mythic gods he now prayed were somewhere up above.

That night he went to sleep,
Wishing me a good night.
He fell asleep so softly--
His eyes closed so gently
As he whispered that good night.

Author's Note

Converting some old songs to poetry. Harder than I thought it would be.
Tell me what ya think.

Reviews

[misha]

This was a realy good piece. I enjoyed reading it. To me it seems like a short story but it also seems like a poem in some aspects. Great job on this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Good to be able to read your poetry again. I like this poem. Remind me of a conversation with a old and wise person in the words. The poem fell together very good. Making a excellent poem that was fun to read. A excellent poem.
Coyote