Robert Lindley Poet Sonnet

Death, a Mystery So Dreaded

Death, A Mystery So Dreaded


What light will shine upon my demise
  perhaps a lone candle burning low
Penny for your thoughts sounds so wise
  will that light burn truly to glow!

Will light shadows dance upon the wall
  a lively jig, complete with shouts
Will I still hear my beloved ones call
  or even know to have such doubts?

Can I wander back, check on my friends 
  just a quick glimpse just to see
Shall death have twists, turns and bends
  or deep blackness merely engulf me?

My love, my life- will it not be missed?
If so, I await our sweet eternal tryst?

R.J. Lindley
Oct. 17th 1979  

Note-- 	Eileen Manassian mentioned in a 
blog comment that she thought my sonnets 
quite good. So I now break out this sonnet
from my private journal written 36 years ago 
when I was 25 years old(wild as a mustang).
I dedicate its public showing to her, my friend.

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Rainbow Promise October 2, 2015 at 2:28 PM Nice sonnet. You covered what's in most minds. "And Death and Hades (the grave)" will be cast into the lake of fire" Lazarus was asleep (in death). Abraham, David and other Prophets laid down with the ancestors. If when we die we are asleep, then we do not hear loved ones crying, see candles lit. But like you say, Death is another door, and no one feels free to Enter? No one came back to peek, say hello and made-up stories about zombies caused fear of the dead to become even! more dreadful.

Afolabi Muideen August 9, 2015 at 9:38 AM I love your write it flows smoothly and excellence........A.M. Robert Lindley August 9, 2015 at 9:38 AM Yes my friend, I did a lot of seeking back then. Now so much older, a bit wiser, I see death as just another doorway. One I make no haste to walk through but still another realm awaits us all. Sometimes I look back at my ignorance(of youth) and clearly see how it was truly bliss.

Richard Lamoureux August 9, 2015 at 8:35 AM I enjoyed reading this thought provoking piece. The mind of a seeker! I hope the answer has been revealed. "o death where is thy sting?" Robert Lindley August 9, 2015 at 9:39 AM Yes my friend, I did a lot of seeking back then. Now so much older, a bit wiser, I see death as just another doorway. One I make no haste to walk through but still another realm awaits us all. Sometimes I look back at my ignorance(of youth) and clearly see how it was truly bliss.

Aurore Severo August 9, 2015 at 1:37 AM I fear it even far away, nice poem xoxo Robert Lindley August 9, 2015 at 7:35 AM Its natural to fear the unknown. Yet death is but a doorway my friend. I truly believe that..

Andrea Dietrich August 8, 2015 at 10:51 PM I'm glad that she inspired you to "break out" one of your 600 sonnets you have buried away from us. It is wonderful to know that you enjoy writing sonnets as much as I do (maybe more!!) I always am interested in how people do the theme of death and I love the way you did your ending couplet here. Robert Lindley August 9, 2015 at 7:33 AM Yes, I dearly love sonnets be they written by me or by other poets. Now that I look back on it , I very likely have written about 2700 poems maybe even a bit more. A few hundred I have saved, about a thousand were burned by a vengeful ex-wife,long story. Some were boxed up and the boxes just disappeared! Life goes on.

Eileen Manassian August 8, 2015 at 6:42 PM Robert, I'm so honored and touched that you would dedicate this to me. :) Thanks ever so much! Yes, I do like your sonnets...This one is one a theme that often is on my mind. You have captured the questions that many have on this topic so well. I liked the part about the shadows dancing on the wall and the twists and turns of death. PS...A wild stallion is always a wild stallion despite the passage of time! :) Soupmail! Robert Lindley August 9, 2015 at 7:28 AM Certainly not wild anymore. The wife saddle broke me good. Not complaining mind you, a good woman is worth her weight in diamonds and gold my friend.