John Watt Poet Etheree

Notes About The Poem

Past the Steeple

"Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind"
- Edna St. Vincent Millay


On
my back,
looking up
past the steeple,
I view pure beauty
beyond the vale of tears.
Soon, I will be going down,
but I am not resigned to stay.
This soothing peace is otherworldly
but for cries of all who mourn my demise


Written 20 May 2020

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Andrea Dietrich December 2, 2020 at 1:57 PM sorry this did not get better than HM. It's one of best I have seen in etheree form! Congrats on the list. John Watt December 2, 2020 at 2:06 PM That means an awful lot coming from someone who wrote a whole chapbook in Etheree form! A very sincere 'thank you' ~ John

Newton Ranaweera December 1, 2020 at 4:19 PM A soothing, adorable piece, John!! Congratulations on your win!! John Watt December 2, 2020 at 2:05 PM Thank you for your thoughtful visit, Newton. Enjoy your day ~ John

Sam Kauffman December 1, 2020 at 8:37 AM John, your words of "soothing peace" and comforting faith break through "the vale of tears" - "going down" only to be raised up. How we long to know that peace. And, your conclusion is a reflection of your compassionate heart. So much is contained in your simple "triune" shape. Many congratulations dear friend - and blessings of peace! Getting ready for spring training! John Watt December 1, 2020 at 2:47 PM Thank you dear friend for the heartwarming congrats and deep, thoughtful review. I love that you saw a triune reference in the triangle, you saw it before I did! That's a good idea though, to write of the Trinity in etheree form... December blessings ~ John

Greg Gaul December 1, 2020 at 5:15 AM Flipping the morose into the hopeful is hard to do. Seeing your faith in image and words serves you well towards that end. Qiute interesting and thoughtful. Congratulations. John Watt December 1, 2020 at 2:45 PM Greg, I'm honored by your thoughtful read and comment. To not fear death is a profound comfort in life. Thank you ~ John

Constance La France May 28, 2020 at 10:35 AM John, beautifully penned and I love your image. Congratulations on your win in my contest _Constance John Watt May 28, 2020 at 10:47 AM Thank you, my friend, both for sponsoring and for a generous placement. I so appreciate your kind comment and congrats, and thanks for giving out the challenge to write in a form I had not tried before. Hugs ~ John

Paul Callus May 25, 2020 at 4:58 PM You transform a 'grave' subject into a show of faith, John. Clinging to mortal life when it's time to go makes no sense!! ~ Congratulations on your high-flying win. ~ Regards // paul John Watt May 25, 2020 at 7:23 PM Thank you for the comment and wise counsel, my friend.

Jan Allison May 25, 2020 at 2:15 PM Dropping back to say many congrats on your win John:-) hugs Jan xx John Watt May 25, 2020 at 2:18 PM Thank you ever so much, my dear friend. I noticed yesterday I have let too many of your new musings go unread, and as we are on holiday here in the States, I will attempt to rectify that. So happy your muse has been coming out to play! Hugs ~ John

Aditi Mishra May 25, 2020 at 1:40 PM Back to congratulate my dear friend on his splendid win :) so glad to see you placed #1 John! Keep rising and writing. John Watt May 25, 2020 at 2:14 PM Thank you, Aditi, for the return visit and your always uplifting comments. I hope your muse is visiting you often, my friend.

Jenish Somadas May 25, 2020 at 10:29 AM beyond this vale of tears.. Congrats John.. Great write.. John Watt May 25, 2020 at 11:06 AM Thanks for the visit and congrats, Jenish

Eve Roper May 24, 2020 at 4:41 PM Nicely done, John, congratulations on your 1st place win. Hugs Eve John Watt May 24, 2020 at 7:02 PM Thank you Eve. I enjoyed your Etheree as well.

Sam Kauffman May 24, 2020 at 4:32 PM Congratulations John on your winning Etheree. You have an amazing ability to look past the ordinary and see into the stars and beyond! Wonderful prayer of faith. John Watt May 25, 2020 at 12:59 AM And you have an amazing ability to encourage your fellow writers. I thank you for that and for these wonderful words of kindness... very edifying.

Michelle Faulkner May 21, 2020 at 1:21 PM Of course you chose Ms Vincent's! (I did, too, naturally) I like the balm of serenity of this, especially the lines 'vale of tears' and 'I am not resigned to stay' - also interesting you told it from the point of view of the deceased - this should place high! Michelle Faulkner May 25, 2020 at 4:31 PM Actually I did not realize you had modeled that line on the poem, but it was a clever idea - and congrats on your placement! John Watt May 25, 2020 at 1:03 AM I guess we are the Edna twins, haha! I'm sure you noticed the 'I am not resigned to stay' line was borrowed from her 'Dirge without a Tune' poem. I loved your Etheree entry and was happy to see you selected as one of the winners. Hope you enjoy your holiday Monday ~ John

Andrea Dietrich May 20, 2020 at 6:27 PM this is AWESOME, John. I chose this theme too but mine is darker!! (not posted yet) Dear Heart is sure to love this. John Watt May 20, 2020 at 7:26 PM Imagine that, the sunshine twins writing dark poetry! What is happening, world? (oh yeah, COVID-19...)

Ilene Bauer May 20, 2020 at 3:00 PM "the soothing peace" is a perfect description of your poem, john! a tough subject to write about so eloquently... John Watt May 20, 2020 at 4:34 PM I so agree about it being a tough subject... I mean, didn't Emily Dickenson say EVERYTHING there is to say about it? Virtual hugs, my friend ~ John

Jan Allison May 20, 2020 at 2:48 PM you bring such beauty into the subject of death a fabulous etheree, good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx John Watt May 20, 2020 at 4:33 PM Always grateful for your generous eye and kind pen, my dear Jan. Thank you ever so much for your ongoing support and beautiful poetry. Hugs ~ John

Aditi Mishra May 20, 2020 at 2:35 PM This is a very beautiful soothing etheree for death. Death brings otherworldly peace to the dead but loss and mourning to the ones still living. I believe our deceased people might want to watch us feel at peace too. You have spoken the truth dear friend. All the best for the contest :) John Watt May 20, 2020 at 2:42 PM Thank you, kind friend. I suppose the two most-written about subjects in all of poetry are love and death. One wonders how to comfort the mourning from beyond the grave. I'm glad you felt this was soothing. Peace be upon your day ~ John

Tom Cunningham May 20, 2020 at 1:23 PM Death is a gateway to the next life, its nothing to fear. Good luck in the contest John Tom John Watt May 20, 2020 at 1:36 PM Agreed, good sir. Thank you for stopping by, Tom.