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Do Not Be Afraid

When fever rises to 109, the gravity is lost: I cling to sheets to hold the bed’s horizon but my spine tends to a weightlessness. The fever heats the protein till the folding point and, they say, it’s the beginning of the... I can’t rhyme out of it any longer. It’s hard to write poetry when you’re floating on the ceiling. Or you think you are: since then, you can’t distinguish the real from the unreal. They call it “The Earth immerging into the Water”, the first stage when consciousness starts leaving physical levels one after another. According to people who was on my way, the Water is about to turn into the Fire. And it does: I still can inhale the white-hot air of my hospital room but the exhalation does not come easy and, finally, ends. The suffocation, the flash, the sparks dying away in the dark. It's a little painful but pain will pass when the Air absorbs the Fire like a blotting paper absorbs spilled ink. They say, the process is still reversible but I wonder whether I want to reverse. Come on, how does it go? “Keep a clear mind, not clouded even with compassion; let your love become dispassionate; don’t be sad don’t be happy do not be afraid - it’s the moment of your death"

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019




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Date: 6/28/2019 5:08:00 AM
I always read a poem and then the comments. Thanks to Mr. Wolf I cannot un-picture the President nude. Thanks Mr. Wolf. The haibun above immediately made me think "Oh, Kurt, you poor dear!" then I thought, "this guy is dying." So well done indeed. It worked great. You imagination has made me smile today.
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Date: 6/27/2019 9:13:00 PM
My heart is sad. I love the line "like a blotter absorbs spilled ink". Ann
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Date: 6/27/2019 5:57:00 PM
109?! Come on. That's crazy hot... I know folks who've passed out at 106... Anyway, who knows if these 'fake thermometers' are accurate anymore. We ARE living in the time of fake everythings: Esp., FAKE PRESIDENTS. Ha, ha. Mr. Trump is really only fooling himself. The Emperor is wearing no clothes. Hope HE is not reelected. Then again, the other Party is just a bunch of inane, inept, die-hard socialists (ugh!) Oh, well. No paradise on this here Earth. Checking out, Volkov
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Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/27/2019 9:34:00 PM
Ha, ha. Russians are too busy now for the American elections. They're hell-bent on disrupting Israel's GPS aviation systems. Pilots there are having severe disruptions. Guess who is behind it? That's right: It ain't Trump... ~ gw
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Kurt Ravidas
Date: 6/27/2019 6:16:00 PM
Vote for Bernie. And don't tell anyone Russians meddle in the election again)
Date: 6/27/2019 2:00:00 PM
Tremendous imagery. Well done.
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Kurt Ravidas
Date: 6/27/2019 2:18:00 PM
Thanks, Richard)
Date: 6/27/2019 1:38:00 PM
This is an unexpected topic for halibun. I have experience with the soul exiting the body as my mother had a near death experience (NDE) and came back to live on another forty years. I find it very interesting that we retain all of our senses sight and hearing that we are no longer connected to the body. It makes one very aware that we are much more than our physical bodies. I enjoyed this point very much my friend. I haven't seen too much of you lately so I'm thinking you must be busy. xxoo : )
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Kurt Ravidas
Date: 6/27/2019 2:17:00 PM
You're right, Connie. We are much, much more than our physical bodies. And you're right again: my little body is a little busy now. I promise to read all through your beautiful poetry one day)
Date: 6/27/2019 11:38:00 AM
My great friend, you deliver some of the most interesting and deeply philosophical poetry I have ever read! Only a very gifted, deeply profound and immensely talented poet could do such. A fav, a superbly crafted poem...
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Kurt Ravidas
Date: 6/27/2019 2:12:00 PM
Thank you very much, dear Robert. Your beautiful words make me die of pleasure)

Book: Shattered Sighs