RESURRECTION MAN

Thoughts on eternity

 

Resurrection Man

 

not long now; pray god, pray god

not long now; bare bones, bare bones

all that remain of what I was

that span of being; so sweet, so brief

such hopes; most dashed, some grasped

dust to dust; no, not quite yet

 

body and soul; fading little by little

lingering long among these bones

my earthly essence, not quite eternal

loitering, lingering; too, too long

within this squalid corpse of mine

  

if I had eyes, what sights I’d see

if I had tongues, what tales I’d  tell

if I had wits, what thoughts I’d weave

 

oh mother, dear mother

I shiver at the enormity of eternity!

 

but even as I tremble at the abyss;

crumbled, mossed, wormed

murmurs and memories of friend and foe

now unpick; my long, earthy, picking apart

pull me fearfully, seductively

back to that last, and first, breath

my rebirth, my resurrection

 

until at last; my time has come

petrified; I lie within my box

the nails are pulled, the lid is raised

then borne to my death bed

where friend and foe await

one breathe; is all it takes

to resurrect this mortal frame

I find my tongue and ask

'your memories fetched me back

now speak of them in truth'

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is one of my favorite poems of yours that I've ever read. This has an intriguing point of view & things are expressed in your usual snappy style of commentary, with a lyrical lilt. As people seem to be dropping around me like flies recently, I wonder how I ever got to be this age where my contemporaries are routinely dying of "natural causes"?!?! So the pondering in your poem really tickles my fancy, since I find the topic of death to be wide open, as far as what's out there & who gets what!!??! I love how you use dramatic language with a wry twist (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[alanwgraham]

This started from hearing someone on the radio that in one sense we live on as long as someone has memories of us. I suppose for most a generation or two.
On that happy note eat drink and be happy for tomorrow we shall ..... Just struck me - maybe our profiles will still be hanging around the cafe when we are gone and Trump is the latest comedy show. (and boris)
Cheers.
Alan

[alanwgraham]

I forgot to apologize Margie for this late thanks. I may just have missed it but some of my WC stuff had gone to spam.
Alan

[barleygirl]

I'm too forgetful to remember what I reviewed yesterday, so you're cool! *smile*

[Dennis Shanaberg]

Definitely could see this being sung in some old-timey pub. Brilliant imagery that evokes not just sights but even smells
This
crumbled, mossed, wormed
murmurs and memories of friend and foe
now unpick; my long, earthy, picking apart
Is so vivid. I really enjoy it

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Dennis. I'm busy working on a family history know and that makes you think on how memories of the departed can live on. I don't believe literally in resurrection!
Take care,
Alan

[Robert Trakofler]

wow the aspire of inspire in the aspiration of your words to breath new life is just about exactly what I believe in too and it will be so with that kind of write good sir this was a wonderful write you breathed life into love the imagery and the flow of it and the matter of matters is superb!

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for your kind review Robert. I believe that we do live on in our works.
All the best.
Alan

[Neville]

this is absolutely bril Alan and I aint talkin fish neither .... N :)

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

This is captivating, Alan.
More thoughtful and incredible..

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Kay for your kind words.
All the best
Alan

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

My pleasure... Fellow writer.

[gram linski]

Good poem, Alan, I think everyone feels the enormity of eternity, Abyss waiting, watching

[alanwgraham]

Hi Gram, Thanks for your perceptive comments. I think when you get older your thoughts turn to your mortality.
But I think you are yet young!
Alan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i see this a different way. It is like an awakening. The speaker feels that the end of life is coming, that his life is no longer worth living...time to go...give up...all that good stuff...and then something happens to resurrect his zest for life...his need to exist...his purpose...
and he gets a second chance at a first chance.
anyway...i like poems that hit my in the eye like this one...and then i say to myself...what was that about?
j.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Jacob. This poem was triggered by someone on the radio saying that in one sense we live on until the last memories of us in others fades but I like your interpretation. Getting old is a bit scary! My own journey into writing has been interesting. A manic episode several years ago triggered a creative urge that seems to have stuck.
All the best.
Alan

[John the Baptist]

This one seems to reflect the belief that immortality consists of how we are remembered by others. If such a belief is valid, some individuals have achieved it. There is as much proof for it as there is for reincarnation. Interesting write.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks John. You have expressed my idea for this perfectly that in some sense we linger on in the memories of others. Some of us more than others!
All the best, Alan

[John Alexander McFadyen]

An interesting piece as the protagonist reflects and considers their own mortality and the concept of eternity. This compact freeverse certainly provided food for thought!

[alanwgraham]

Thanks John, this is meant to be the prelude to a longer ponder that I've be boning up on for a while - seems like eternity! I thought I'd just get this out while the going is good.
Cheers,
Alan