Get Your Premium Membership

Pearley Kirkland 1901-1914

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Stark Hunter .


 

Poem 21

From the anthology Voices From Mt. Olive Cemetery, a work in progress.

Pearley Kirkland

1901-1914

Riding double one day 

In musty Sycamore Canyon

With Dewey Hicks on “Belle,”

His old cranky mare,

We watched the stubborn ascension

Of the sultry sun,

Through the cloak of sycamores and willows there,

And transmitted from his mouth

To my naive ears,

I heard the wisdom of the ages!

Heard the voice of tenacious truth

And rigid reality.

He told me I was in need of a savior.

He told me of the Nazarene, magnificent;

The Alpha and the Omega, everlasting;

The Eternal Redeemer, superb;

He told me of the Rose of Sharon, sublime.

Dewey took my hand that day,

That warm and wonderful day,

And I accepted the spectacle at Golgotha,

Accepted the screaming cry of the Skull.

And then, with blustery April, my time arrived.

I died of influenza, with

Dewey reading the twenty third psalm.

When I breathed one last time,

I closed my burning eyes, and

Saw the Rose of Sharon, sublime.

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: 12/21/2016 8:44:00 PM
Excellent, Stark! Great concept, well done.
Login to Reply

Book: Reflection on the Important Things