Get Your Premium Membership

Memorial

...for the Rev Eric Shirvell-Price


A blizzard of papers blanketed his desk.
His pipe rack stood like a chess piece, 
mutely waiting to be shifted.
Sepia toned photographs lined the mantlepiece,
like soldiers standing at attention, 
and there was a smell of stale tobacco.
Volumes and manuscripts burst
from a bookshelf, while origami figures
lined another. A coffee mug bore stains
of sherry aperitifs, and port to accompany
his after dinner cigar. Crosswords 
and limericks were everywhere, 
vestiges of his light and lively mind. 
There were newspaper articles,
and empty fast food containers, evidence
of lonely, late night dietary indiscretions.
His vestments hung limply from a coat hook
like wraiths, belying his portly frame.
the frame which now lay in a mahogany box,
a whisper of his former self, 
a shadow of the man that he once was.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/30/2016 3:05:00 PM
I love this. Peaceful, beautiful
Login to Reply
Bickerstaffe Avatar
Keith Bickerstaffe
Date: 1/30/2016 4:13:00 PM
He was a remarkable man... so much so I'll have to change the last couple of lines to better appreciate his importance to me. '...a symbol of his wondrous strength, the image of the man he grew to be.' Thanks Kelli! Best wishes, Keith

Book: Reflection on the Important Things