Summer flowers in Winters Last Breath

The fruitless tree stretches to the sky;

It tells my eyes the story,

of seeing over all.

I am not interested,

for I know it only reaches so far.

I straighten up my shirt,

for whom I did not come to see.

Cars parked parallel with cars,

Men talking double dutch,

as cigarettes touch the ground,

relatives reap past memories;

to faintly forget some forgotten.

Entering the room, I see her there;

She lays not within herself.

I see my gift of past rosary beads,

I understand the comfort in compassion. 

A collar walks in, reassuring ideas of 

fundamental goodness and honesty,

but my eyes expose this illusion,

I do not challenge this image 

of who we imagine ourselves to be;

I see this mere man,

out of respect for her I say

"Evening father".

I rejoin relevant relatives,

beside lighting lamps,

All collected outside, 

feeling furious tensions,

they presently pray.

 

It seems there is more collective emphasis on life, once dead,

then when  you are living.

People are so quickly brought together,

when they are brought apart.

Strange faces,

that are closer than friends.

Key words that keep,

when their speaker has been lost.

Bells knell in the distance and 

walking sticks serve their purpose from larkins,

until finally at grass.

Lower drops the casket,

all Thoughts tremble

as I forget fear.

Clay is laid on clay;

the ground is at rest.

My head bows to only my thought,

my life manifests from there.

If it is my crime to think too much,

I wish to be more than winters centralized tree,

perhaps a thoughtful stack of summer flowers,

that melts with the clay once free. 

  

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Beautiful words. The description held me to the last word.
"My head bows to only my thought,
my life manifests from there.
If it is my crime to think too much,
I wish to be more than winters centralized tree,
perhaps a thoughtful stack of summer flowers,
that melts with the clay once free. "
The above lines are amazing. Could stand alone if necessary. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Louise O'Neill]

"So quickly brought together, when they are brought apart"
Very touching and beautifully written.

[Saddam]

Genuine and powerful piece.
I enjoyed reading it.

[Julie Spade]

"Bells knell in the distance and
walking sticks serve their purpose from larkins,
until finally at grass.
Lower drops the casket,
all Thoughts tremble
as I forget fear.
Clay is laid on clay;
the ground is at rest."

I'm a huge fan of this poem!! You are a beautiful, strong and creative writer that relates to each and every person dealing with loss whether it is physical or emotional. Please keep sending me requests! -Julie

[Adam Whitworth]

Generally such clever and impersonal words seem inappropriate for such occasions but I do like this poem, lots of good phrasing, a believable mood sustained throughout, valid thoughts and memorable imagery. well done.

[TL Boehm]

Such a resolute, articulate poem that manages to wrench my heart from its bone cage and magnify the ache of loss..the finality of it all. Beautiful lines in this piece. Well penned.

[icelandicblue]

This is really a stunning poem. It moves from scene to scene and emotion to emotion with great finesse. There is a hush to your words and a longing to grasp life before it is lost. You don't just mouth that life is short you believe it to your marrow...death does that to us. The image of the summer flowers is really jarring. They are dying upon the dead but at least they have a sliver of time left. I will be sure to read more of your work. There is much wisdom in these lines:

It seems there is more collective emphasis on life, once dead,
then when you are living.

[Einstein Noodle]

you paint that too familiar picture well .. i remember the first funeral i went to .. i was in 5 or 6th grade .. my best friend's Dad had died .. they were Italian .. there was some kind of tradition in meeting at their home ... i remember so vividly how awkward i felt .. i wanted to say something to my friend but did not know what nor how so i repeated what i heard the adults say as we passed by the family .. i am sorry! but it held no meaning for me .. no magic wand .. i had no experience with loss and grief at the time .. i can see it all as i read but your last verse and that bit of turn in the closing lines is pretty darn good! tho i am no scholar of anything .. i like the focus on life now and aspiring to be that "... thoughtful stack of summer flowers," :)
E.

[Shane Hogan Poetry]

I'm glad I could reach out to you in this way! Thank you so much for spending the time to describe the contrast of situation also! I really feel as though I have accomplished in this write, due to the understanding feedback! Inbox me anytime!

[Einstein Noodle]

back at ya Shane! anytime...
E.

[Sami Khalil]

A good write, sir. Very collecting of thoughts even if they all tremble...Bravo......................