My Last Poem, Revised

Will my last poem be something simple,
like taking a final breath, 
or will I have time to write
a much longer poem, an epic say, 
for every life ever lived has been epic, 
with courage and cowardice,
heartbreak and newborn love, 
things found and things lost.

It takes guts to live: 
bad people doing bad things,
mother nature turning on us, 
giving a blue sky in the morning, 
and a tornado in the evening to suck up life.
For 100,000 years 10,000 ills plagued us, 
wrecking bodies, and killing us like swatted flies...
in the end, life murders everyone.

Hard, hard life is--still, we love it at its best, when, 
like a pleasant dream, life brings happiness, hope.
So I offer this as my last felt poem,
more a prayer really: 
forgive us--
keep us-- 
and with that last breath,
lead us home...lead us home.

(revised 8/31/15)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Alex Avatar
September 14, 2022 at 7:24 AM
"It takes guts to live" - Bold statement. Entire poem is beautiful. Congratulations!
Carber Avatar
September 15, 2022 at 4:36 AM
Thank you, much appreciated!!!
Messina Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 8:48 AM
Great poem, L.J. Congrats on your win! Charlie
Carber Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 12:12 PM
Thanks Charles, I'm glad you like it.
Andresen Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 8:31 AM
- Congratulations on your great winning poem in S.O. contest, L.J. :) - Have a lovely Sunday :) - // Anne-Lise :)
Carber Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Thanks Anne-Lise, I'm glad you liked it.
One Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 5:24 AM
Congrats on your placement in the contest..
Carber Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 12:48 PM
Thank you,Silent One-- I feel honored!
Ashley Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 11:43 PM
Wow! Your poem is truly and deeply meaningful, beautiful and soulful, L.J. I love the depth of insight and emotion expressed. Congratulations on your wonderful win. ~Susan
Carber Avatar
December 9, 2018 at 6:50 AM
Thank you Susan, it is very much appreciated!
Roper Avatar
December 1, 2018 at 11:17 PM
Enjoyed reading , LJ, congratulations on your win.
Carber Avatar
December 2, 2018 at 8:32 AM
Thanks Eve, much appreciated
Andresen Avatar
December 1, 2018 at 11:17 AM
- Many beautiful and deeply moving poems for this contest ... congratulations on your win, L.J.C. :) - hugs & happy weekend // Anne-Lise :)
Carber Avatar
December 1, 2018 at 6:35 PM
Thanks Anne, and have a good weekend as well (though since I retired, I seem to be on an eternal weekend!)
One Avatar
December 1, 2018 at 11:13 AM
IF only life was so simple.. Congratulations on your placement in he contest..
Carber Avatar
December 1, 2018 at 6:34 PM
Thank you Silent One, I am honoured!
Marc Avatar
May 1, 2018 at 10:11 AM
I have enjoyed so many of your poems. There are so many living gems. Thank you!
Carber Avatar
May 1, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Thank you, P.M.-- I am sincerely almost a bit 'giddy' hearing my late-in-life children called living gems-- because , you see, I never expected to be writing poems again in my late 60's (now 70's) after I stopped writing altogether in my early 30's. They come of their own accord-- from the soul?
Bocsa Avatar
August 31, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Revisiting poems is remembering themes . Revisiting life is becoming conscious usually we are lived by life without knowing to come back to the song of the own self.Congrat.Welcome home.
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