Live Well

Here's a link to my you tube channel where I read my poetry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbj9bj58Txw

It’s hot in
Missouri.
The summer  
sun looks down  
jealous of
youth playing in
the fields,
carefree and
careless.
Kids drown
muskrats with
rocks in the
stream, and have
funerals for flies.
Death watches, and
waits for
winter to come.

Author's Note

My book, Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems is available on Amazon.com
My limited edition e-book, Rise Up Collected Poems and Short Stories is available on Booksie.com

Reviews

[MsJewel]

Your poem is striking! —there’s a lot of vivid imagery in those few lines. The juxtaposition of youth’s carefree actions with the looming presence of death and winter creates an eerie tension. The line "Death watches, and waits for winter to come" feels like an inevitable conclusion, while the playful cruelty of the children (drowning muskrats, holding funerals for flies) adds a layer of dark innocence, almost as if they’re unaware of what awaits them. Amazing writing! :) Julie

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

If summer could speak…
It would tell a billion stories.
The frivolities of youth,the ceaseless and endless adventures.
You took me back in time.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much.

[Sami Khalil]

I like how you bring all these activities into
sharp focus.
You have a message: live well before death and you winter come.
Wow!

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Sam. I appreciate it.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome sir Thomas.

[Pete]

deep and telling. we can't go back again but as my muse thoreau wrote, "we can live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." (and that doesn't mean that everything has to be perfect, less can be more).

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend. I love Thoreau.

[Pete]

he was a very cool guy, misunderstood and way ahead of his time for sure. he could always see the handwriting on the wall and wasn't afraid to read it or write it.

[Joli Dy]

I don't know that the sun isn't a villain here. He watches jealously the children he sees as careless and carefree... Then we see what the children are doing. Pretty thought-provoking.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much.

[Sapphus]

Winter months are death months. I agree.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it.

[Relic]

I love the whole book Thomas. You bring the words to life through the images whether disturbing or compassionate.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you very much.

[Rosalie-O]

Very gritty writing. You do this style well. Those not so innocent kids are completely unaware what lies ahead for them, and it’s not just the changing of the seasons. One should never disrespect the summer sun, either. His jealousy has a way of making us pay a price.

Well written.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[Neville]

This is so delightfully raw .. write up my alley .. Neville

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.