Death

Response to this challenge: http://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/

Death

It flashed in front of my eyes
The embodiment of death 
The fear of an ominous end
Towards which our lives are heading
It balanced on a lean foot
Steeling itself to tip toe 
Its skeleton carcass forward
A vulture nibbled by its mates
Loomed in front of my gaze
Shedding its last feather
Balancing silently
Like a scientific model
Was it a dream
An illusion
A tormenting film 
I could not discern

In the corridor a stormy voice 
Thundered like a menacing force
"As soon as we stop growing,
We start ageing"
The walls cracked open under
The weight of truth 
    - As stark naked as the bird
    - As strikingly obvious as 
    - The Son above the Earth
Floating in the two clauses
Coated with a complementing glue
Like fissures of the Roman Empire
Cemented into tapestries of
Caesars, gladiators
Arena fights, slaves 
And women scarcely attired
Yet only when uttered,
It is pondered
And passed on in books and brochures
Devoured by ardent readers
Making your wit famous

The pink animal
In the forefront
Was enclosed by 
An illusory row of mirrors
In the background
Framed by streaks of light
Intermingled with the dark
Seeping through unhinged doors
Offering no reflection
Of the creature's ghost
Devoid of signs of life
Oblivious to the maze
In which it was trapped
Like we are
In our meandering
Through tapering paths
Towards our common denominator
The symbol of death
The scythe in her hand
Waiting for you and me and all the rest

Reviews

[Maria]

Wow, this is truly great. Loved it

[Kate]

Thank you!!!!!

[Maria]

You are welcomed.

[Weeping willow]

Really good write,describing the dance with death and how we move closer to it in ageless time. ;-}

[Kate]

Inspired by the pic, you can see the link above :) I am happy you like it :) Thank you!!!

[aj milton]

OK so I don't write poetry myself, and I would not offer technical advice about poetry... but I will say that the symbolism and the description of "death", and the balance of the words in the first verse is absolutely excellent.

[Kate]

I was a bit scared when I started reading your review. Anyway, I am pleased about your conclusion. I'm happy that you find some bits and pieces good. Hope you enjoyed it :) THANK YOU!