in The end

 

There once was a mother who told

Her four boys on a night very cold

To live life to the fullest;

“The very very fullest”

 

Forty years later, there once was a man who set sail

To wildsome lands like Antarctica and India

He wrote back to his brothers by mail,

“I’m living life to the very very fullest”

 

There once was a man who stayed at home

To love his wife, his children, his mother, and father

Had a little house, and not much money, but

“I’m living life to the very very fullest”

 

There once was a man who set sail his heart

He gave up money, family, and a chance at Yale

To live on the streets, to laugh, to celebrate

And he’s “living life to the very very fullest”

 

And then there was the oldest man

Who owned a mansion, an island, and a fake tan

Not married, no friends, but a hell lot of money

“Oh yes,” he chuckled when asked,

“I’m living life to the very very fullest”

 

Then on October 17^th, the phone call came,

From the second brother, that Mother –

That Mother had a stroke and didn’t exactly make it.

And that the funeral’s on the 20^th, see you there.

 

And on the 20^th, the four brothers meet

With their beloved mother, beloved guide

Dead, ashes in the urn, on the table, surrounded by portraits

And wondered, at all, if they truly listened after all.
 

Author's Note

what do you think the message is?
does the poem flow and where does it not flow

Reviews

[Joe]

I really like this poem. To me it says that living life to the fullest is different for everyone, that no two people are exactly the same. I think the piece flows very well and I like the message in it. Great job! Keep it up!