Terminal station

Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them. George Eliot

Sights are flashing by and out of the eyes

in wide angles they lay, in evening dreams

they will stay, as images fly away, so it streams

to the end, while melting into darkening skies

 

as the train on his way to the following day

and later there’ll be nothing more as it was

and fast, so terribly fast, no time for a pause

in the sound of a moaning there’s a little prayer

 

so close together and still chained in a lace

the shackles between them are not easy to break

in the shadows there’s a fluttering pace

 

in the heart, in the breath there’s a final quake

the last stop, a ticket to buy, a resting place

on the end of a one-way street, we will wake.

 

© Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere

11/04/2015

 

Author's Note

Also on my blog

http://lejaeghererudi.blogspot.be/

Reviews

[RiverRei]

This is lovely. It gives a comforting feel to death and how each of us passes in our own time. I'm used to reading poems about death that are dark and depressing or sad, but you are able to capture it with a sense of peace. I love the picture of a train and the last stop and the end of a one-way street signifying it's your time to go. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece with me :)

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you also for your kind words. I'm so glad you like this sonnet. :) Rudi

[emmajoy]

This is focussing on a sadness and yet.. i don't know, it hasn't upset me but rather made me realise even more that every day between birth and death is precious. We all know the inevitable will come, and in different ways, each to its own power .. '.. nothing more as it was - and fast, so terribly fast, no time for a pause - in the sound of a moaning .. '

The journeying metaphor is so very apt. Your words are expressive, somehow comforting whilst being very honest. I wanted to say 'amen' at the end. I will when i read it again.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much, Emmajoy, for your kind words. It's always difficult to find the balance when you put feelings on paper. You never know when it's too much or too little, an accent on some words can make the difference. That's a poem, after all, emphasizing words so that they become the feeling when you read them. When you mentioned that you wanted to say 'Amen' I first thought you had read my other poem 'Amen' that I had posted on Good Friday. But after looking closer, it could indeed be a prayer, certainly at the end. Thank you again for reading my poem. :) Rudi

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for sharing sobering piece.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you for passing by and reading my poem, Delmar. :) Rudi

[Confuser]

Rudi: When I read your poems, it never fails shortly into reading I say aloud "WOW"! You are so talented the way your mind words, all the details; the train and ticket as a metaphor, that we will all one day board: and the layer of beauty in each line. Just amazing. I love it. Thank you once again: Brilliant. Dale

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much, Dale. Glad you like it. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[Confuser]

Was rushed: Can't copy/paste: so close together and still chained in a lace the shackels between them are not easy to break: just magnificently written and oh so true. Thank you!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Dale, for your kind words. It's a difficult job to translate my sonnets, but in the end it gives much pleasure and satisfaction when they are finished. :) Rudi

[Confuser]

You're welcome Rudi: They are beautiful; so glad you began to translate them.

[R Smith]

that's great Rudi, the combination of death and the train to the end of the line a brilliant idea, you put the two together so very well :)

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thanks, Richard for passing by and reading my poem. Glad you like it. :) Rudi

[sereenaoutloud]

This is beautiful but sad. It reminds me of Phillip Larkin Poem... Ambulances. We will all be visited by death,those finally days, hours ..all too short!!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

So true, Sereena, thanks for passing by, reading and reviewing. Have a fine day. :) Rudi

[jacob erin-cilberto]

dreams pass by so fast, just like life...we get to that final stop...faster than we ever imagined...

reminds me of sylvia plath's Metaphors, the last line "boarded a train, there's no getting off."

and we try so hard to break the shackles knowing life is so short...we need to make the most of it...and don't let caution keep us from experience.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Jacob, for your comment and wise words. :) Rudi

[Aatharva Banaitkar]

very beautiful poem, fantastic work!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you Aatharva, for your kind remark. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[MsJewel]

Your words have touched my heart Rudi. It is almost the two year annniversary of my father's death. Your poem brings back those last precious days...thank you for that my friend...they are days that passed too quickly...days I will cherish always.

Julie

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

I know the feeling, Julie. My father died the day before it was my own birthday, on the day his own father was born and five days after his own birthday. Every year those are difficult days. Thanks for the kind remarks. Have a good day still. :) Rudi

[Jamestown]

Every day we get closer to that day, there is no way around it.
The day of death closes in on us quickly and I pray that we are
all ready for it, there is no 2nd chance, great flowing write,
Thanks for sharing and b-blessed!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thanks James, for your visit and your comforting words. Have a fine day. :) Rudi