The Swan Song

A refection of dealing with terminal cancer in a friend, emotions set down in words, understanding the ramifications of people's thoughts and feelings evoked by imminent arrival of death.

Melancholy dreaming in fields of sunsets sit

Weightily wearing thoughts of old,

Memories, smiles and feelings of cold

Your heaviness shares itself with those who care

 

We will not sit and stare, pointed finger unaware

Friends sit with and beside you until you're there

Every step, every touch, glance and breath

Companions, life chaperone's foothold unto death.

 

Sun spills down upon a brighter reverie

Unfolding epilogue of an epic tale

Wonder, excitement, teetering expectations

recapturing moments of spirited glee

 

Reflections of loving, of passion of thee

Of holding love in your arms, enveloping be

Soulful expectations of feeling long lost

Youthful abandonment clinging you trust

 

Recapturing your capacious life in a hazy glory

Mindful of friends preoccupied in stories

Minds eye ever knowing, perceptively growing

This is the day of the swan song

Author's Note

All feedback gratefully received!

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

Death is seldome a welcome visitor.I suppose we all know it toles for us someday. Who can say if it is anothers passing we lament or our own mortality we fear most

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thanks for stopping by Tate. I am not afraid of death, I fear more for how others deal with it. Which is where this poem came from.

[Tate Morgan]

I am not one to face it lightly I suppose growing old is also a chance to mature and face death with some dignity

[TrimarcoRansome]

Yes I suppose it each person would have very different experiences of death and therefore different takes on it. I think I used to as a child be afraid of it or rather others dying but as I have grown older and been around more death I become less afraid, I am happy with who I am and what legacy I leave which makes me feel an inner peace with myself.

[Tate Morgan]

I am way too vain for that lol

[TrimarcoRansome]

Vanity is not something which I am cursed!!

[Tate Morgan]

consider yourself blessed really

[TrimarcoRansome]

I do, Tate!

[Laughing-Bear]

My Dear Writing Friend,
I went back in time to this your first post, my favorite line was “recapturing moments of spirited glee”. This line I found thought provoking. It set my pneuma crackling much like a dry piece of cedar crackles and launches sparks towards the heavens. I’m sorry your friend has such a fight on hand with cancer. Well written and heart felt.

Blessings, Laughing-Bear

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you for your review. He is long passed now, his fight over and still fondly remembered by many.

[Tam Warink]

That you fashion this remembrance and it is the first thing you chose to share here... it says something about you - about your ability for compassion and for your expression of things, matters really, that everyone will struggle with eventually. It is these eventualities and how we deal with them, in part, that tints our moods thereafter. Our joy may, at times, seem brighter because we have experienced a deeper contrast in sadness. It's a good thing to remember a friend and an even better thing to share what memories you can of them. Thank you, Helen.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you for reviewing this, interesting and thought provoking words. This was written before he passed away, when death was imminent. This was a reflection of how he and his companions were thinking, feeling about his hideous plight. He died of a rare cancer which eroded his beautiful face, robbing his sight, taste and speech. For a lover of art and culture it was death itself. The experience taught me many things, a depth of compassion I never imagined was possible but also it was a very humbling experience evoking many thoughts and many hours of contemplation throughout the two years. He is peacefully resting now and he had a great send off.

[John Phoenix Hutchinson..]

Ahh the Unfolding epilogue of an epic tale, so poignant and thought provoking bringing back memories. As good emotive poetry should.

[TrimarcoRansome]

John, I thank you for your kind comments! Helen