Memento Mori: Twilight In Paradise

The lament of an evil man on the eve of death:

“It is twilight in paradise 
And the end of my idle life 
Of lavish pleasure is nigh. 
My dreams benighted, 
Crumbling before my eyes,
I sorely regret frittering away 
Those calm prosperous days 
Of youth, wealth and peace 
On plunder and wicked deeds,
Wrathful violence and conspiracies,
On fraud, libel and charlatanry,
And slender courtesans who steal
Lascivious glances and feelings. 
Now I stand before the abyss,
Old, withered and ready to slip 
From my blissful mortal coil,
And into the infernal boiling oil.
Alas! I now rue my failure to do
Even a single upright deed!”


Poem released into Public Domain

First published on my blog (with image):

https://purelandsutras.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/memento-mori-twilight-in-paradise/
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Newbould Avatar
January 27, 2023 at 5:10 PM
Good Heavens, Mr Chung! I joined Poetry Soup just to comment on this. Tomorrow I turn over a new leaf, I promise! All the wasted time I must make up for, the upright deeds I must perform: it all starts tomorrow! Wonderful poem. Nice work, Sir. You certainly got the message across.
Chung Avatar
January 27, 2023 at 8:08 PM
Hi Lars, thank you very much for the encouragement. It's been years since I've received a comment here, so to see yours, and such a wonderful and kind one too, is a great delight. Glad you liked and found meaning in the poem!
Scars Avatar
October 18, 2016 at 7:29 AM
wonderful poem Brian, loved this one...congrats on your placement :)-luloo
Chung Avatar
October 18, 2016 at 7:41 AM
Thank you so much Laura
Wigley Avatar
October 18, 2016 at 12:20 AM
I like to think you were only a little wicked like the rest of us, Brian. Congrats ona fine write. Regards, Viv
Chung Avatar
October 18, 2016 at 3:18 AM
Thank you very much Viv!
Farmer Avatar
October 17, 2016 at 12:02 AM
Nicely written Brian. "I sorely regret frittering away Those calm prosperous days Of youth, wealth and peace On plunder and wicked deeds"
Chung Avatar
October 18, 2016 at 3:19 AM
Thanks, Morgen
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