What Kind of Paradise

Death is increasingly my friend
as breath subsides; it hides no pretense
of regret or fear, but lets me own it
as a coverlet that I will know
as now is lover of eternity.

 

It is most gracious.   Candles
all around me silently snuff out
and share their peace
in trails of rising smoke
that teach me of their transience,         
speak as voice may not
of faithless time--of a reward
confined to castles in the clouds
or barefoot, unwashed gods
with spirit swords.

 

This body graces me with death enough
to  yield eternal joy:
if consciously, no promise need be made, 
if not, a dreamless nap devoid
of tangled bedclothes,
thunderstorms outside,
or mattress out of warranty;
insidious alarms will not exist,
nor yet the "I" to stand apart
and wonder why.
                ~

 

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I guess Paradise can be found when there are no more unknowns, no more unrelenting question marks at the end of your thoughts. The timber of your voice in this poem falls like a tree within a forest, and we are all receptive to its sound, as it sets free a flock of freebirds overhead.

[Tom]

You make the grim-weeper when he calls (and he will) ,look like a welcoming caricature from Disney world and that's not an easy thing to do !

[Dean]

he is...and more!

[Marie]

"If death is sleep, why how sweet is sleep. If there is something else, that too is good..."
Socrates, I think...

[Ken Simm.]

There re so many ideas that I enjoy in this and wish I had thought of. Unwashed gods for one. you do inspire envy in me Dean as the words flow and come together almost like schools of fish or flocks of birds.

[Dean]

gosh, I can ALWAYS say that of my reaction to YOUR work

[Ed Hart]

i don't know how friendly it is, but it does seem to be moving in

[Dean]

I do not limit any concept of Paradise (how could one?) but I think it is not limited to an afterlife.

[Ed Hart]

just look at the word 'afterlife', and see what dreamers we are...one thing i'm sure of is that this ego we carry around is a time sensitive construction, and was not meant for the ages...life does not need our ragged hopes...pardon me for leaving this scratch on your pristine page

[Dean]

I never want my page to be pristine. I welcome discussion, encourage it, even crave it. Please scratch all you like.

Maybe the material life is for that purpose, hammering down the ego, which only the self can do.
I see lots of life ahead for other activity.

[Ed Hart]

well then, let me know when you're going; i'll be glad to cross over with you...assuming there'll be 72 ladies in waiting...the idea of 72 virgins really scares me

[Dean]

dunno about the virgins. I think I'll take 'em with a little experience.

[J. J. Nightingale]

lol ... :)................

[Dean]

do you agree?

[J. J. Nightingale]

Yes Sir !!