William Kelii Kekaula Poet Sijo

Notes About The Poem

Poetic Form: Sijo
Inspired: 2024 January 03

 

*5th Place*
Titanic - Fare Thee Well
Contest Judged: 2024 January 15
Sponsored by: Tom Woody

 

Image: A Night to Remember by Giphy & Titanic by SoundCloud

Nearer My God to Thee, Be A Cross That Raises Me

The hour matters none ... for the energies have exhausted.
In the year of our Lord ... nineteen hundred and twelve, April fifteenth.
Writes a future living star ... wish their joys so he may shine.

'Tis to be a deliberate endeavor ... they call life.
An unaccountable ledger of sums ... know he the worth of it.
For in that great beyond is an opened book ... ere his youth.

There'd be certain measures that wretched body ... once unmasked.
Natures of a retired validity ... that aloof vainglory.
Tarries an elusive shell ... the semblance of human sorts.

A cub sponged in denizens hound ... the spoils of settled earth.
Masques of the poor scores yon ... and indifference spared them from their kind.
Their pain slices him whole ... in this grand finale of truth.

The role he crawl from under ... frees a den's claimed orphaned cub.
He conformed to their ways ... indulgence begets an awakening.
De-sands a timepiece from Giza ... transforms the silent lamb.

Qualities of Osiris ... no longer foxes kinsman. 
Without manipulative truth ... mainly defines reality.
Loss crept e'er so close ... as circumstances affront him now. 

The iniquities ... recorded in that hallowed ledger, 
He lay claim to its authenticity ... 'twas him who'd inflicted;
upon those who were of wickedness ... and the righteous few.
 
He included self ... in self-afflictions of great numbers,
wherever the blame may lie ... be it concerning his existence, 
thereupon points those sharpened fingers ... deserving of it.

Repentance for his sins ... subjugated through crying eyes. 
His life for another ... sans a name or a face in lieu of tears. 
They shared the deafening silence ... two muted distinct smiles.

One in tears looked onward ... to a face of blessed assurance.
The last boat edges off into the dark ... desperation arose.
A great clamoring ascends ... into the bitter abyss.

The hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," ... the chaos stops to song.
Ships officer calls out, ... "Abandon ship, every man for themselves."
Lost lamb hopes his roll's called up yonder ... as his last words read ...

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Christuraj Alex January 16, 2024 at 7:07 AM A very dramatic and touching narration in the form of Sijo. Congratulations! William Kelii Kekaula January 16, 2024 at 7:53 AM Blessings, Christuraj, always a pleasing venture and sharedness, I'm honored, my friend. Aloha, William

Ink Empress January 16, 2024 at 2:19 AM Impressive how you did this whole moving and soulful write in the form of sijo chains,creativ of you and depth of this poem truly hits strong:any reader can see through you well articulated lines the scene unfolding i especially felt “ Repentance for his sins ... subjugated through crying eyes. His life for another ... sans a name or a face in lieu of tears.” Hits home for me! Congratulations on your win! Well deserved. William Kelii Kekaula January 16, 2024 at 8:07 AM FIRST PLACE OMgosh, Ink Empress, YOURS was DEEP, deep, d..., anyway your jewel is Fave, Aloha, William. Of course, I appreciate all you've said here, for you are a dear friend.

Hiya Sharma January 16, 2024 at 1:04 AM Heartiest congratulations on your amazing win dear William, absolutely well-deserving, keep writing! :) I loved this one.. William Kelii Kekaula January 16, 2024 at 8:14 AM Thanks, again, Hiya, and I didn't know you had submitted your entry with Woody, too. Amen to us both, blessings, my friend. Aloha, William

Hiya Sharma January 3, 2024 at 8:00 PM Gosh, this poem tugged at my heartstrings, dear William, what an evocative write which paints that vulnerable scene of ship sinking as all the vulnerabilities surface and waiting for the last year to finally drop as life fades in abyss of blues.This must account for a masterpiece and probably, one of my Favorite poems from you.That ending was perfect.Titanic and its sinking, it continues to happen throughout the ventures of time, in different forms.But that particular incident is unforgettable. William Kelii Kekaula January 3, 2024 at 10:10 PM Yes, time and again, it tugs away at a beautiful sleeping world that life can also be horrific. It is what it is, good bad, bad good. One cannot be without the other to judge which is which. A secret shared--we are the best, glad am I, we're not alone, my friend--A P P R E C I A T I O N, am I. Aloha, William