Sonnet 2

This burden, that you place upon my back, 
grows heavier with time's passing, pressing hand. 
My strength is stretched; my faith fails on the rack 
of knowing that, in spite of all, like sand 
escaping from a powerless, open sieve, 
in two short words, from blameless lips and hearts, 
my hopes might vanish; all that I believe 
sunk like a wreck marked, mouldering, on the charts. 
Sometimes the fear is physical and makes 
my leaden legs to drag, my heart to sink 
within my chest; sometimes the form it takes, 
cold, black and dead, clouds out my power to think. 
These times the thought of what may soon be lost 
ten million times can multiply the cost.

Kim Helen James
11/8/95

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

James Inman

Date: 11/29/2020 8:52:00 PM

Wonderful to have found those poems that helped you grieve during a difficult time in your life. The anxiety of loosing what was one of the most important aspects of your life is overwhelming, but best to move on when you know it is over, even with the unbearable pain.