Linda Alice Fowler | + Follow Poet |
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Dead

I found him lying on his bed,
hair tousled and with a sweet smile.
I realized that he was dead.
I knew this was no show of guile.
A lifeless shell fueled with faith
betrayed a muted mask of wraith.

Though none, I called Emergency.
They asked me blankly, “Are you sure?”
No breath, stiff limbs, lividity –
a terminal illness, no cure.
“I’m sure (as Hell!), yes positive!”,
assuming that, the causative. 

All three came as well as ER,
coroner, sheriff, mortician.
One to play the body’s chauffer.
One to judge the man’s condition.
One to say there was no more breath.
One to announce the “formal” death.

A cold harshness to the moment,
finality so sure and straight.
No use to sit down and lament.
Too late to try to clear the slate.
It is what it is, as they say.
Nothing further to do but pray.

An homage of his joy and bliss; 
his ardour for life and nature.
His pure love for God not remiss;
his place within Heaven secure.
A faith-based life and in the end
all he wanted was one true friend.

Copyright © Linda Alice Fowler | Year Posted 2023

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Andrea Dietrich Date: 2/1/2023 12:29:00 PM wow, it's so sad that he did not have one true friend. You did a good job creating the atmosphere of the coldness of everyone toward his corpse.. Well written! Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 2/1/2023 12:56:00 PM Thank you Andrea. I appreciate your thoughts. Linda :)

Victor Buhagiar Date: 2/1/2023 2:16:00 AM Glad that in his demise he found a friend. A touching poem that reminds us of our end. Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 2/1/2023 7:28:00 AM Cheer up Victor. There is good in everything! hugs :)

David Kavanagh Date: 1/31/2023 1:05:00 PM This David was probably going to say something similar to the David below Linda, but you’re right when you come across a dead person you instinctively know it, without all the bureaucracy that ensues, Dark humour but compelling reading nonetheless, Where did this one come from? a fine poem, cheers David Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 2/1/2023 7:28:00 AM Hi David. Thanks for the read and thoughtful comments. As for where, it's fact and fiction - I worked many years in law enforcement in a past life. I've seen things that hover at the edge of my memory.

David Bose Date: 1/31/2023 11:22:00 AM Wow, Linda, my heart melted with the first line and I felt stunned with each stanza. A situation no one wants, and you described it vividly with a tinge of humor ... that you pull this off using such a challenging form attests to wonderful talent. So well done, I feel I lived it. Dave Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 1/31/2023 11:47:00 AM Wow Dave. Such high praise, I blush! I'm glad it struck you. My thanks to you for reading and taking time to comment. Linda :)