Best Epitaph Poems
Here lies Sidney Snoozer, a lover of sleep,
His last nap eternal – relaxed, six foot deep.
For Epitaph Contest 2
Hosted by Jesse Rowe
© 15th April 2019
She came to me in the noon day sun..
her world wistful, longing for an unsung quiet.
But I would not remain still, nor silent,
though her hours in life, never meant for long.
Desperately I grasped her up in loving embrace..
And in her arms cried, please let her remain!
I offered myself in sacrifice to assuage,
but enchanted sirens called sweetly, come.,
and left me alone on an empty stage.
Buried here is the weather man J. P. Blithing
Forgot his brolly and got struck by lightning
In this vault is the flat coffin of J.J. Stowler
Fell into the path of a runaway steam roller
In this grave lies the ashes of Jim Fortescue
Got drunk and passed out on a barbecue
Buried below in two halves is Arthur. P. Law
Slipped in his workshop onto a circular saw
Interred a hundred feet below in a lead lined coffin
Are the glowing remains of an accident prone boffin
Lying in this vault is the body of a tiger
Inside its body is the hunter J. Stiger
Buried below in a jar are the pickled remains of P. Stringer
Who stumbled and drowned into a large vat of malt vinegar
Written 23 September 2021
He undresses rumor to reveal lies
this is how the desperate man cries,
Extra Extra he tries to sadden ya,
a bundle of rancor rambles from the shambles of his shame
finding form on a page of purely personal pathos
what he can't have he taunts,
flaunts falsehood as fact in commiserating style,
vulgar and vile such as pornographic propaganda
designed to compell despair with poisened air,
what does he care, loyalty he knows not how to share,
decorum just a ditch in the swamp of his heart,
hurt hurt hurt is the mantra of his yellow emotion
a mud temple is his refuge,
burn love, ravage respect, ruin reputation
is the curve in his grimace, the grime in his game,
even the news stands have rejected his rank rubbish,
a character assassinator eliminated by the Poet's assembly,
take your delusional drama to the closet playa
hang it on a hanger of humbled heresy,
your rusty razor shall not go "haymaker" anymore
remain in your "hayfever" brought on by Truth's retribution,
a wedge maker is your legacy, a virtuous man your fallacy -
J.A.B.
Harvey Denning
1909 – 1923
“I saw the universe a thousand times.”
I saw the face of God
Spread out across the sky
Like a million cities on fire.
Like Troy cut into little pieces
By the slashing sword of Achilles.
Cut to shreds and bleeding.
There on the ramparts
There inside the fissures and crevices
Of ten thousand unknown dreams.
I read the stories of Homer
And the tales of a thousand and one Arabian nights.
And I read the solemnly immortal words
Of Longfellow, Poe and Defoe.
And I decided inside my mind long before I died
To perhaps write the greatest story ever told.
But I fell from my tree house
There on Dorland Street
There in the cool shadows of the walnut tree.
What would have been my story I wonder.
What visions would I have conjured
For all to read and envision?
My friend, will you write my story now?
Will you take pen in hand and possess my voice?
Will you find the noble courage to speak for me?
This forgotten dead soul
Buried here in the dark dust of Clark Cemetery?
If you kindly consent,
Please begin it with these words:
“I saw the universe a thousand times.”
If you were looking for me
I had to go.
God was calling you see
and I couldn't say no.
Don't be sad
it's a happy day.
Just be glad
we had yesterday.
We had some fun
and we had some laughs.
But it's not done.
Not by half.
God called me
but I'm still here.
You just can't see
but I'm with you dear.
I'll be watching over you
and I'll love you forever.
So what ever you do
don't ever say never.
I'll see you again.
God told me so.
Good-bye now my friend.
Everyone has to go.
EPITAPH - A LETHAL WIND
Here lies George, the sad deceased
Victim of flatulence released
The result: he would expire
Stood before an open fire
Geoffrey Brewer
15 Sept 2018
If you knew my mind
You would fear me
If you knew my past
You would stone me
If you knew my heart
You would love me
***
No Loitering, Skating, Skateboarding or Cycling.
I was lost, I was found, I was hunted, I was downed ,
Heard the screams of the whale when the harpoon has hit
Seen the burned out congregations when the fuses were lit
All the fury in war's faces and we're sick to death of it...
I need space, I need time, show some mercy, cleanse the mind
I have to leave all trace of that vile hatred behind
Cry no more, no more, no more.
We've been taken, We've been used, We've been shaken, We''ve been bruised
Felt that look of despair in the infant's eye
At the wrench of departure in the bittersweet goodbye
All this cruelty in mankind just makes me want to fly
I need space, I need time, show some mercy, cleanse the mind
I have to leave all trace of that vile hatred behind
Cry no more, no more, no more.
I was blinkered, I was blind to human conduct so unkind
Seen rich lunatics shooting all the birds in the sky
The crating up of dogs sentenced needlessly to die
Drowned babies on some shoreline and we sit and wonder why.
I need space, I need time, show some mercy, cleanse my mind
We have to leave all trace of that vile hatred behind
Cry no more, no more, no more.
We can dream we may see better times for you and me
Somewhere warm somewhere loving where we all live happily
In a place where our spirits and joyful hearts run free
And we all pull together for peace, humanity...
I need space, I need time, show some mercy, cleanse my mind
We have to leave all trace of that vile hatred behind
Cry no more, no more, no more.
----------------------------------------
SEE AND HEAR ME SING THIS ON
YouTube: Louis Spence. Cry No More. Thank you.
I suffer
I suffer in the shadows of empty clouds
Sorrow consumes the very essence of who I am
Evil lives, yet beauty dies, why? Why not me?
Her words brightened the world
A woman I will never know
Has left me sad
That life was stolen
The devils work is never done
Her heart is penned in poetic verse
To live on, so that we may all remember
The brightness of her smiles
The kindness of her heart
Late in the night, I read verse after verse and verse
A tear I do shed in silence
For the woman I never knew
Her heart lives on in whimsical prose
I lay down in her memory this red sweet rose
Notes: Dedicated to Linda-Marie Sweetheart of Poetry Soup
At the time I did not know her struggles, and yet here she was full of
kindness to us all here. Let us never forget the angels who walk
amongst us. God bless.
Ella Hyde
1857- 1898
That cad with the freckle on his forehead,
That rascal man beast,
Handsome as a Greek
But devastatingly insecure,
And so deliciously young!
He was the one who stole my pride,
There, behind the Hadley tombstone in the moonlight,
And who,
Breathlessly and with trembling hands,
Unlatched the ruby red necklace
From around my naked neck that night.
It was he.
That cad who swooped down upon my innocence,
Like a maniacal Zeus
In one of his crazy costumes of concupiscence,
And carried me off to nights of brazen episodes,
Splendid spectacles in light and magic,
Of him and me embracing wildly, madly,
In dreamy dances with caresses and kisses.
Only the truly passionate
Could understand these mad scenes in the dark!
I met RS on many a night
In the long concealing shadows of Central Park.
He was my man, but he didn’t know it.
I lived my life here in this dusty town the best I could.
I believe I left my mark in some small but universal way.
At least I knew when to say no to Roscoe Settle.
Now I’d like to go back to my grave and sleep.
I am tired of this rant about The Man Beast.
At 41 I entered here after my bout with diphtheria.
The trees here are my shadowy friends now.
But I sometimes secretly wish I could meet RS.
Just as it was in 1897,
He and I kissing in the garden Gazebo at Central Park,
His hand on the small of my back.
Me trembling with monstrous want,
My ultimate Prince.
Who lied to me like a rat!
Wish I could have taken better
Care of my body...
Wish they could have stopped
the cancer sooner...
I'm just a spirit now,
Floating over my own funeral.
If I had my way, I'd pick another church.
At least one that spelled my name right
On the obituary.
I wonder if they knew,
That I truly loved Sonya,
but married Adele out of convenience.
Wish I could have told my brother, Kenny
I forgive him, maybe he wouldnt cry so hard.
Wish I could tell Aunt May that hat is too big.
I wonder if Tara knows the deacons
Are looking up her dress.
Im just a spirit now,
Floating over my own funeral.
I wonder if the choir knows
How much I really hate that song...
Hope they know the Pastor's lying.
I was not that good of a man..
That suit is not the one I would have picked.
My body looks so much smaller,
and that make-up makes me look too light.
Im just a spirit now,
Floating over my own funeral.
Free from pain, free from it all.
Wonder if they know,
In spite of my short time on this earth...
i truly enjoyed it.
I truly loved it all.
I miss you dad every single day
The wonderful Times I remember
Are the times we spent together going
To dinner and church
The times I will cherish always on this earth
Your gentle ways and smiles and hugs
Made Life worthwhile for this is true
Forever you are missed in my heart and soul
But the forever is Heaven and you are there basking
In the Light of the Lord
I miss you dad and loved you so much
But eternity is yours to no longer hurt
Cancer is what took you far too soon
I am always remembering your hugs and
I loved you so much too.
Eternity is there for you now and forever
Remember I love you and Kisses from here
to you in the forever they call Heaven from earth
Will you leave this life
Without a murmur or a whimper
Be cast down to the depths below
In a hallowed tomb of timber
You did not exit stage left
To the sound of thunderous applause
Or the scream of heavy bombardment
Or some tearing tiger claws
To all the men who slipped away, unnoticed
Here is ye're epitaph
We looked at the world with unblinking eyes
And all we could do was laugh