Last Lines of Poetry

Not many words left for you
my lips become icy
days and nights freeze on my skin, 
on my head, on my shoulders, 
on my back, and on every strand of white hair tonight... 

New year comes through the window, 
blows chilly wind into my bones, 
quivers my every cell, 
and shakes my legs...

My hands softly try to grasp every day, 
catching the still-far-away joy... 
You should watch 
carefully to see that
the fog tonight becomes my breaths, 
that the midnight moon 
is your face among the stars fading away... 

Not many words left for you
I sit under the moonlight, 
write down until no ink remains, 
and see my last words 
soak in fog and smoke...   

my last lines of poetry in my life 
now become gifts for you
and tomorrow I will live a homeless life, 
wandering under the light of moon and stars

no more words in my life
when the sky becomes a piece of paper,
when the flying stars become ink lines 
and when you become the moon...

By Phan Tan Hai
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Phan Avatar
October 10, 2023 at 5:18 AM
Thank you for all the comments. Phan Tan Hai
Stone Avatar
October 10, 2023 at 4:45 AM
Loved the visualization. Appreciated the thoughtfulness.
Sietesantos Avatar
August 18, 2022 at 6:03 AM
Hai Phan, yours is the kind of poetry, I only dream of writing! Simply sublime, I read this piece over and over again! Bravo!
Ong Avatar
August 16, 2022 at 6:39 PM
Beautifully written. So nice to hear the words of poets who are older, who have lived a life, dealing with inner philosophies and thoughts that age brings, and always a spark of hope within the loneliness written. A joy to read.
Nair Avatar
August 16, 2022 at 6:06 PM
And then every moment is a poem! Beautiful write.
Manu Avatar
August 16, 2022 at 5:41 PM
Beautiful imagery!
Sands Avatar
August 16, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Very good poetry! :)
Lamoureux Avatar
June 29, 2022 at 4:20 PM
I like how you express your thoughts. You are indeed a poet who’s words are worthy to be pondered.
Goff Avatar
June 29, 2022 at 3:57 AM
To mine faves Hai Phan....such talented leaping lines "the fog tonight becomes my breath" our dear departed Minnesota Poet Robert Bly....is smiling with me this cool morning (57 degrees) in Minneapolis, as my climbing beans in my community -garden gratefully lean towards the daybreak sun!
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