I hear and Reflect for Orlando

narrative verse

 

 

I hear and reflect

 

 A bell tolls sonorously

 one single chime. Then silence reigns

It wakes me from my reverie.

Conscious again of aches and pains.

 

I had lost temporarily

 in contemplation of the past

That single knell reminding me

 Of the long years which quickly passed.

 

Before the years caught up with me

For old age does not come alone

It brings along infirmity.

Which hitherto you have not known.

 

When you are young you do not know

What future lies ahead of you 

but as you live and learn and grow

You will become as others do.

 

Much more aware than what you were

of how your body will re- act.

To the stress and strain you bear.

That you must think before you act.

 

Gone is the energy of youth

You used to waste without a thought

You slowly come to learn the truth

That rude health can’t be sold or bought.

 

As long as I can hear that chime

which has disturbed my reverie

I can be certain that this time

 The death knell does not ring for me.

 

Each day an opportunity

To do things I can still do

 although slow and steadily.

My body still allows me to.

 

Although I pay in aches and pains

I do not think the price too high.

My interest in life remains.

I am  too busy far, to die.

 

I know I will eventually

but do not let it worry me

It is the only certainty

the bell will toll one day for me.

 

23-Nov-08

 

http://

blog.mypace.com/poeticpiers

 

Reviews

[R J Askew]

You are right and it is not a happy prospect to face the reality of where we are and what we face. But until the final verse of our lives, we write on, as to write keeps our mind and will focused. The next poem may be our very best. Who knows? Meanwhile, I hope the aches and pains have not been too bad. They have not diminished your skill and ability to create a sustained piece of sharp observation to a good rhyme scheme, that is certain.

[TL Boehm]

yes, you know when I started writing poetry it was all lyric poetry, all ryhming. I've gotten away from it these days, although when I am first inspired - it is often in ryhme scheme, but I don't take thetime to write it down. I let a lot get away...
This one is eloquent and it makes me long to feel this way, afraid as I am of my own mortality.

[Syke]

First line has 7 syllables (unless I can't pronounce sonorously?); the third line of the 5th stanza also has 7 syllables, perhaps you should add 'all' after 'to'; the second line of the 8th stanza has 7 syllables, maybe you could add that and; the third line of the 8th stanza has 7 syllables as well, was it meant to be slowly.
I am curious though, what exactly does 'rude health' mean, I'm unfamiliar with the term. It's a very good poem, I can feel the pain and hope bleeding through. The poem definitely elicits feelings of sympathy and empathy within me.

[CarolinaBlu]

well wrought - when read a loud
it has a fabulous flow .

aging brings the winter winds of life -

enjoyed
me