Death's memento mori

Thank you Rick for helping me with this revision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(((Flashback)))

 

As a young child on a Sunday morning, I remember the preacher man saying:

 

"God help the soul that refuses to drink from the blood of the lamb!"

You were born into this world as nothing more than a dirty thumbprint."

 

"God will spit, WIPE, and then you're gone........................"

 

 

I'm 33 now, trying to live life as a non-believer.

The bible thumping left a bad taste in my mouth.

This gives me peace, to not be wrapped up in scripture.

If I don't believe in God, then there must be no HELL.

 

 

********************************

 

 

I never saw the bullet coming, I just remember running!

I cradled my head as my mortality dripped with red.

And then I saw him, like a thief in the night. 

God help me, what a hideous site!

 

Death's memento mori, he mocked me in his decay,

his shadowed hands eclipsing my verve.

Expired......I began to see the dead; feel the unheard.

 

My vital force, displaced in his world, I awoke.

I stood to behold, Death's wealthy estate,

material goods and souls without fate.

All of this merchandised, and shelved with a date. 

 

Then suddenly.........

he gave out a SHOUT!

"Choose" he said. 

"But choose wisely!"

 

He began to showcase before me

an interesting meal, hot off an offering plate.

A devil's pact seasoned with silver and gold

representing the covenant, waiting to be sold.

 

And this is what I saw:

 

A tree of life

demoralized,

sprouting images of fear.

 

An offer of exchange:

one more year of MY life

for my daughter of eight

 

Or...........

 

A return to earth

as a paralytic, mute

and deaf in my ears.

 

Death seemed annoyed, as I turned in disgust.

Feeling desperate now, my eyes wondered over to a 

carpenter's cup covered in time, covered in dust.

 

Thirsty and dry.............I began to cry.

 

"Can I see?"

 

"May I drink?" 

 

Death handed over his "mirage" of a cup.

Inside I saw many visions; the sacrifice of the living Christ.

Wine prepared and shared at the last supper. 

I could see the sacrificial lamb.

I could see the fountain of life. 

 

I was about to take a sip when Death said,

 

"It's too late to drink from this cup!"

 

He grabbed it away.................

 

"Pick your plate."

 

"You had your chance!"

 

"You're mine now!"

 

"Eat up!"

Author's Note

I have Rick Puetter to thank for this rewrite. He tore this poem apart with love, and dared me to be bolder with the message. I don't care what your religious beliefs are. I wrote this to envoke a certain kind of fear. Despite all our many differences, fear of death is something we can all relate too.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, it is ironic...we can claim a disbelief in a supreme being...in heaven and hell...but as death draws nearer...even as we age and see the possibility of our mortality..

there comes this fear we cannot always explain..but we know what it is don't we.

this is a terrific write..a terrific battle between good and evil...and between belief and atheism.

jacob

[Muse]

Wanna hear something ironic? A talented writer by the name of Rick Puetter helped me rewrite this, and he has told me on more than one occasion...that he is athiest. And it was he...that dared me to push the envelope.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you pushed it, stamped it and sent it...

that is interesting...

[Muse]

it shows that Rick has character.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, it does.

[Muse]

he's not on my friend's list anymore...his intellegence, way over my head. But..I respect him.

[Eagle Cruagh]

Tempus Fugit Mememto Mori.'
(Time flies remember death).

And they said do you believe in God ? And of course
there is no alternative except perhaps, Satan.

Do I believe in Satan ? Of course not, but I know
he exists---- in the Ying and Yang and all the good and
evil , right and wrong, we need to choose.

We know that good exists----- How about evil ?

and then it was revealed to me,
Satan is real and her name is DAWG.

Loved your writing on being a nonbeliever.
Couda fooled me.

----- Eagle Cruagh

[Call_Me_Miss_Imperfect]

Wow, this is a really deep poem you have presented Muse. I really enjoyed reading it since it's sort of like my poem "The World's End". It's scary to have dreams such as this one and wake up wondering will it really take place one day. The truth is it is going to happen.God created the beginning and the Bible in Revelations says there's an end also. I mean don't you see how Earth is slowly dying? Once it finally breaks its final straw what do you believe will happen? Hell's going to try to corrupt. We both have our opinions and rights on what we believe. Nice write!

'
Ashley Rivers--Dream BIG and you'll win BIG:)

[Muse]

thanks for your review sweetie...keep walking the walk...otherwise nobody will hear your talk. :)

[Call_Me_Miss_Imperfect]

You're welcome :) and thank you haha

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Muse my lady of love this is all too dark! It is beatifuly portrayed in eloquence and in such great description. Please fight on.

[Muse]

dark yes...but during that particular time in my life, these questions brought on nightmares.

[Droll Prole]

Death and our fear of the unknown! What we go to but also losing what we have and the God question, you have this covered so well. I don't put much stock in religion but really, to love god is to know him.

[Muse]

This was actually about a dream I had as a teenager. It haunted me for a very long time.

[Humor Me]

best read ever !!! straight to the point and a very different point of view of death !

[Wretched Knight]

Great read! Felt that one!

[Mockingbird]

this was an intense and powerful parable. i liked how the person's faith was tested after she was turned off by the brimstone hellfire the priest, or pastor, was spewing from the bible. i don't think anybody should tell you how to write your poetry. nobody should. your poetry is beautiful.

[Art Sun]

quite the write here Muse...I wonder how many are left with that traumatic sense of fear embedded since chilhood...religious, death, choice, life...all the mind has to do is escape, escape from the repetitive nature of mankind and religious philosophy...we are free to choose no matter what we believe (or are led to beleive) and I know where and who leads me...nice work

[anonymouse]

this honestly made me scared, but lots of things do. good job.