Were Death To Come

Were Death to come and meet me
I would put my hands in his,
and leave out all my questions-
for what was no longer is.

Were Death to come and meet me
I might caress his face,
and wonder if he were lonely
not owning time or place.

Were Death to come and meet me
I would heave a heavy sigh,
for no matter what life's misery
I'm not sure I want to die.

Were Death to come and meet me
I would not say his name
but pray that his arrival
would be wrought with little pain

But Death has come to meet me
he awaits my final kiss,
now I promise, I promise,
I promise, not to miss.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow i am so glad this found its way back to the front page....i missed this the fisrt time.

this reminds me so much of Emily Dickinson's "because i could not stop for death"

making death out to be more of a gentleman caller than the grim reaper...more like a date...

and you wrote such a beautiful allegory here...

to touch his face, caress, kiss...ah yes.
in sensual terms...speaking of the meeting.

[Odysseus Wanders]

I'm not sure Ill 'review' this well... but ill try.
Writing about death is such a tricky business, since none of us have done it... others do it, and we reflect, in life, as to what we feel about loss... that being said, I think you muse in a very sensitive way, and my guess, is that death, would be honored.
I'm struck by the concern for deaths lonely demeanor. And underneath... that loneliness, for me, or to me, is once again, something left behind for the living to deal with.
So in the end... after reading this piece, it leaves me with this profound thought- 'death' is inside us... and when someone dies, it is called forth into existence, and it is never the one who does the dying, that feels it the way the living do. Im not sure if what i say makes since. A good read. Heavy, and good. I will think more now about this topic, as is my nature. And any writing that gets my body and mind to move... is good. Thank you. Ill work into your more current writing as time permits. But i like to start at the beginning of peoples pages.

[icelandicblue]

You are the second person who has read my last poem first. You are right death is for the living to deal with but I do wonder about that moment or moments right before it happens. You will find other poems that have a similar viewpoint. I am happy that you read a piece of my work and feel reflective about it. What you say makes perfect sense, the dead do they dying but it does not often happen in a split second so they dance with death until the end and then the living deal with the aftermath. No one escapes, living or dead. I just personified death so that the poem had a third point of view or character. Thanks again.

[NeiL ArandA]

Icelandicblue...this is where it began...I won't say much for now...You started with typical rhyming 2 and fourth line...Its already an advance style...then you went free verse...awesome...I usually check writers with their first posted piece..sort of their birthplace... Just like General Douglas MacArthur said, " I shall return " ...for more...

[icelandicblue]

Thank you, I look forward to your return. ; )

[s y e]

Okay, here goes my new 'review plan'

Opening Comments
Wow, this is great. I loved it, you have so many great points that I wish I would have thought of, hahaa.

Themes
Death. It's a hard thing to deal with, especially when it's a loved one. It's quite a dark poem but at the same time light, if you know what I mean....?

Moods
It's sad. I know it was terribly upsetting for me when I lost my Grandpa 3 years ago in January. You really captured the emotion.
"and wonder if he were lonely" What a line! That is an excellent point! Is it lonely? Maybe it is or maybe it isn't, I guess in movies they interpret it in different ways.

Grammar and Spelling
This was such a painful read for me, in my head it plays a little movie of when I got told my Grandpa died, it was a terrible thing to happen, and how he was kept on monitors so my Dad and Aunty could say goodbye. :( Hard times.

Closing Comments
This really touched me, it was such an emotional read for me, I enjoyed it. Well done.

:D I think this makes sense, lol!

[icelandicblue]

This is the very first poem I ever posted on this site. We can't outrun death but neither do we embrace it. When you lose someone you love there is no deeper pain. I lost my dad last June and thought I would melt like candle wax. It's hard, it's just so very hard. I appreciate the time you took to critique the poem and I thank you for doing so. You did a very thorough job and I am impressed. ; )

[s y e]

I learn from the best ;-) I know the feeling, I still to this day miss my Grandpa terribly and sometimes I look up at the sky and I know that the brightest star in the sky is him. :-) You are always welcome. :)

[icelandicblue]

We had a star named after my dad. I know he would have thought that that was the most ridiculous waste of money in the world but somehow when I look up too I know his star is there and it gives me a sense of peace.

[s y e]

Yes exactly, I think it helps too....

[Frieda P]

Even though this is about death, it's more a tribute to life, looking at your truth straight in the eye with acceptance and dealing with it, very profound read blue, you know how affecting this is, I have many of these thoughts as such on a regular basis wondering how she really met her end.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Frieda,

I don't obsess about death but it does creep into my thoughts. I often wonder how one prepares or if you really can.

[Frieda P]

I think it has a lot to do with circumstances and whether or not you're ready to let go. My pleasure blue.

[Kristin Lee]

I love the power and truth in this. we all know that death is inevitable, and yet its an unknown that we fear. How could we not? This is a goregous write up. I love the symmetry and flow between each stanza and particularly the close. Promise not to miss...miss what? Miss death's kiss? Miss this life? Oh the possabilities....

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Kristen.

[Sheila Kline]

Many of us hope for a quick exit from this world without suffering, but it is not always so.
How many of us are truly ready for the time to come? If we understand that so much awaits us on the other side, then it is an easier "event" for us. When we give the final kiss, as you mention, we may not miss it. It is merely our time!
A gripping write my friend!!

[icelandicblue]

Hi Sheila,

How nice to see you. Thanks so much for your review and for your thoughts.

[CricketSong]

I always enjoy reading personifications of death. I love this piece. Thank you for sharing it.

[icelandicblue]

Hello! Thanks so much for stopping in.

[Christoph Poe]

This is astonishingly beautiful. I don't intend to get religious in my reviews to avoid conflict, but the man you speak of here leads me to two conclusions: one being God or Jesus Christ himself; or possibly a close lover? Either way, it evokes a tender love that pulls me, your readers, heavily within. This is professional work. You should be proud.

--Christoph

[icelandicblue]

I am honored and humbled by such a review. Death is a universal experience yet we can't share it so we try to understand through poetry. Thank you so much for such a lovely review. I will be sure to read you soon.

[Jack...]

Blue, your creative mind was in high gear for this one. I'm sure we all think of death from time to time, but putting it or him or her in this perspective is amazing. Very nice my friend.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Jack-just trying something different.

[Jack...]

You did a great job with it.

[icelandicblue]

You are always so encouraging. Thank you.