About My Fear Of Death

English sonnet sandwiched between some Eights 'n Sixes

Children of God, pity my flawed
and dull sense of self-worth.
While heaven may find you someday,
I'll return to the earth.

I'm nothing but a wisp of swirling dust,
set out to please my heart and gut; and bound
to disappear in time, as all things must,
that come from and return unto the ground.

And, like a stone that's beaten by the wind 
or twigs picked up by birds to build their nest,
those pieces forming me, upon my end,
will go back in the mix with all the rest.

And, as our world is eaten by the stars,
in time so stretched, but no concern to me,
there will be none who care about what mars
and taints my current swirling ecstasy.

I'm living with the suffocating fear,
that when i die, my mind will disappear.

So, if it seems I'm chasing dreams,
betting on illusions,
just leave me be, in reverie,
amongst my delusions.

Author's Note

Please let me know what you think.

Reviews

[William Michael Reeves]

Hey stranger. I was looking for Petrarchan sonnets by different poets. Couldn't find one that you had identified. Studying the resolution in the sestet of the octave. Ran into Richard. The one with the pen.

I tried not to be distracted by the bread and ate the meat of the sandwich first. Not sure if I can alleviate your fears, as I believe we are as organic as all around us and death takes our minds in the end. Excellent expression of fear though. I would like to think my essence might end up in a nest, of life. I really liked the sonnet and can see how you might want to add to it. The sonnet form is so brief. And you used your last quatrain to completely resolve your thoughts.

Direct me to a Petrarchan Sonnet if you have one. Thanks

[mattavelli]

Thanks for reading, Bill! :)
I direct you to my Sonnet For Regret. Enjoy the writing. That sonnet form will inspire lots of word folding.

[Nico Reznick]

What an awesome simultaneous lamentation/celebration of mortality and impermenance. The second stanza stands alone as a great mini-poem.

[mattavelli]

Thank you, Nico. :)

[cimmy wuv xxxooo]

Love the rhyming. Came naturally didn't feel forced, was brilliant.
I think we all worry about dying. But proberbly worry more about just not existing, just being gone. Scary thought aee.
Anyway great piece. Enjoyed tge read

[mattavelli]

Thanks for reading and the feedback. :)

[cimmy wuv xxxooo]

Your welcome :)

[Fran Marie]

This was skillfully presented in a unique fashion
A beautiful sonnet of death which we all indeed
Inevitably must face..

a lovely piece of work

[mattavelli]

Thank you, Fran. :)

[Indra Neil]

a wonderful blend of contemporary and Shakesperian styles! the imagery is amazing! well done! :)

[mattavelli]

Thank you, Indra. This is my current favorite of my own writing. I've been having trouble thinking up new ideas... Haha

[Indra Neil]

u r welcome! :)

[GPR]

I love a good poem that leaves you thinking! Also, the imagery was amazing! Really great poem!

[mattavelli]

Thanks, GPR. :)

[GPR]

You're welcome :)

[Joshua Carl Cruz]

Better than 60 percent of most others with some wrinkles but overall clear and written with feeling. Good

[mattavelli]

Hello, "Jabnabba". Thank you so much for the wonderful review. You've really cheered up my "insert time of day". -Matt

[Arjun Singh]

well, definitely talks of our denial to discuss possibilities of death, which is undoubtedly inevitable...
A gd 1 my frnd!

[mattavelli]

Thanks for reading, Arjun. :)

[Gaurav Bhattacharya]

This is great. Brings everyone down to the same level. Back down to earth you could say... (pun intended). It's a humbling thought that we're all just recycled matter and then destined to be thrown "back in the mix".
Excellent poem. :)

[mattavelli]

Thanks for reading, Gaurav. :)

[Tej K]

Incredible. A very thought-provoking and skillfully written poem.
You know, some of us worry about our mind disappearing before we die... that's gotta be one worse :P

Well done & thanks for sharing.

[mattavelli]

Ya, that would be bad. Thanks for reading, Tej. :)

[Valentine]

I think most of us spend our lives chasing dreams. The point is....make it your own dream that you are chasing, not someone else's. Valentine

[mattavelli]

Great advice, Valentine. Thanks for reading.