Beth's Ultimate Life-Changing Prophecy

It used to be responsibility 
was something Beth had wriggled from until
she dreamt, yet chose not to reveal, the prophecy
that blessed her life and gave her newfound will.

No longer was her life monotonous,
for not a moment did she waste of it.
And there was not a girl more generous.
Her transformation was the ultimate!

One day Beth went out (seeming frail)
to pick blueberries, never to return.
They found her body by her half-filled pail.
The reason for her death, we soon would learn. . . 

A cancer with no cure began, they guessed,
around the time she’d said her life was changed to blessed.

June 27, 2021 
for Charlotte Puddifoot's Contemporary Sonnet Poetry Contest

(Irregular syllable pattern; I hope that is one definition of contemporary)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Laurie Avatar
July 3, 2021 at 10:10 PM
Hello Andrea … I assume that nobody she told imagined what Beth really meant. A sad verse indeed - thank you Andrea - Lindsay
Ball Avatar
June 28, 2021 at 12:37 PM
WoW Andrea! What a story! How wonderful that she was so brave and not frightened for a minute. Great one. *I think this is the top winner. Good Stuff. God Bless, JB
Theraven Avatar
June 28, 2021 at 7:07 AM
Andrea, Very fine write in 'Beth...' Too many lives never get the chance to fill the pail full with blueberries. -Richard
Buhagiar Avatar
June 28, 2021 at 2:06 AM
Surprise ending. I was expecting something else. Best for a win.
Krutsinger Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 10:41 PM
Very well penned Andrea; no surprise there. Great story; it rings of truth.
Kiser Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 8:15 PM
Wow, powerful lines, sad, she tried to grasp all of life in the time she had. Good luck in the contest.
Seeker Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 7:38 PM
So deeeep. Only an exalted, evolved soul could have acted as such.
Balasubramanian Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 6:41 PM
Wonderful write Andrea reminded me of a Hindi movie in which a cancer patient lives life to fullest, helps all after he comes to know he will not live for long.Some get dejected, others take this route. All the best for contest
Mcintosh Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 6:19 PM
WOW... such a beautiful tale. Sad that some of us fail to learn to be the giver instead of the getter long before there is such a tragic ending. God bless you for such a wonderful yet tragic story. Love it. Love you, Gina
Canerdy Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 2:32 PM
Oh, Andrea--how very sad and moving! Excellent! Janice
Andresen Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 2:05 PM
- She was carrying a heavy backpack ... all alone - So sad, Andrea - Best wishes in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Turner Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 1:30 PM
i would be the same. If I found out I had a terminal illness I would not tell anyone. live like you want and die like you want. Nicely done Andrea.
Dietrich Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 1:51 PM
I think maybe you got this better than others. Were you also able to get that the prophecy in her dream caused her to change her life significantly before dying? That is what I hoped to make people see.
Cunningham Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 10:23 AM
Quite a sad verse Andrea, we often take our health for granted. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom
Hankins Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 9:19 AM
Heart-wrenching account of a woman who did what she thought was best, I think. I enjoyed the poem, but felt very sad. Best wishes for the contest, Andrea.
Allison Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 8:58 AM
oh gosh Andrea I wasn't expecting the sad ending and from experience i know how life can throw us curved balls at the most unexpected times, hugs jan xx
Dietrich Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 11:45 AM
she knew she was going to die and she changed her ways and made her life meaningful before it happened. In a way it is not supposed to be a sad poem! guess I did not get that across.
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