Memento Mori

thoughts upon life and it's meaning

Memento Mori

we are but shadows

flickering, on the screen of life

we are but ciphers

quickening, our purpose hidden

we are but dreams

whispering, upon our naked souls

we are but flesh

quivering, on the edge of oblivion

we are but death

a reckoning, on the scales of life

we are but human

a rippling, on the sands of time

Reviews

[Omikron]

I feel that you put all the thoughts I could not pin down into words in this poem. This is exactly how I feel, people tend to put themselves on a pedestal, not realizing that we share the same type of flesh, veins, blood as billions of others, we are fragments of a machine we don't understand.

Wow, I love this poem. Thanks for sharing.

// O

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for your kind review. Yes I think we are flickering shadows, not really knowing ourselves.read moreThanks for your kind review. Yes I think we are flickering shadows, not really knowing ourselves.
Regards,
Alan

[alanwgraham]

Sorry, not sure where that last bit came from!
What i did type was, Regards, Alan

[Omikron]

Haha, I will read more though!

Keep it coming.

// O

[Adam Light]

I really like this. It has great form - and a great message.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks adam for reading this and your comments. It was strange how this poem seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Cheers,
Alan

[...]

I can just say pure existentialism in pure form. Words are simply and straight. And make reader think about her or his own life.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks, I have to keep it simple because I can't do big words and fancy metaphor - and I can't understand them.
Regards,
Alan

[KCthelastboyscout]

I believe life is like love there is no meaning. IT just IS. The purpose of life is what you decide it to be for your own just my opinion. This was simple but very insightful.thank u

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for reading and your very profound comments. I agree completely with you - our life is only what we can make of it. There is no guiding hand or fate in the background.
Regards,
Alan

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Good lines. A bit melancholic I thought.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks again. I agree with you - the tone is quite dark.
Regards,
Alan

[Sayantika]

Wow lovely thoughts you write really well...

[alanwgraham]

Thanks sayantika. This poem just came into my head! You'll see that most of my writing is short stories but I think they are worth a read. There is often a surprising twist. By the way, your photos makes you a very young looking 81.
Regards,
Alan

[Sayantika]

I'm not 81 BTW... It's just a story.... And thanks for becoming my friend

[Dara]

So true and fitting for these troubled times we find ourselves in. A very thought provoking and memorable write.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks dara. Life does seem a bit of a mystery at times but we just have to get on with it.
Regards
Alan

[Ted Kniffen]

Top marks, Alan. A profound message. The two most important words? 'we are' A good write.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Ted. These thoughts must have been forming unconsciously because the poem seemed to write itself.
Regards,
Alan

[Ruth]

This is so beautiful, I read it a few times to absorb its beauty. Stunning flow Alan and effortless, elegant and tenderly expressed, eternal, in some ways :)

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Poppy. Sometimes writing just seems to flow. It is a mystery!
Regards,
Alan

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A flowing piece that makes one think of ones own mortality and the inconsequential nature of our footprint upon being.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks John. Poems are not easy for me but this one just seemed to write itself after I had the first line. I am always fascinated to know how people can write such brilliant poems. I guess there is not one answer.
Regards,
Alan