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Two Short Poems About Death

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Estuary published: 28th April 2022

The Aqueduct was originally written in 2020 and republished here in January 2025

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Estuary the strong tide greets the sheltered stream where life's hereafter dares to dream a place where screeching, circling birds fall silent to breath’s final words where memories once formed on land are carried by the shifting sand to where the river meets the sea and on then to eternity. Aqueduct where ten arches span time across the Ceiriog Valley sheep lie in green pastures beneath a Welsh / English sky as narrowboats above steer the canal of Llangollen through shadows of high summer’s still quiet waters by.

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Gary Radice

Date: 1/26/2025 1:42:00 AM

I originally wrote Aqueduct as a stand alone poem in 2020 on a day my wife and I walked the beautiful Chirk aqueduct that borders Wales and England. The day before I had learnt of a friend's death from Covid. The poem is basically a description of the land’s beauty intertwined with a few words and ideas from ‘The Lord's My Shepherd’ - a Christian hymn based on a psalm I have often heard sung at funerals. I'll add that I also likened a slow moving narrowboat crossing the border along the aqueduct that day to that of a coffin slowly crossing from this world to another along a higher source. Cheers - Gary

John Watt

Date: 9/2/2022 11:58:00 PM

Dying has often been referred to as crossing the river to the other side or sailing off into the sunset. Water seems to be a very natural image for the passage into the next realm. You have suffused your vignette with such a peaceful vibe: the circling birds; the sheltered stream; the shifting sands. I really appreciate the sense of calm in this, and the feeling that dying is as natural and tranquil as a river meeting the ocean. Love the line "where life's hereafter dares to dream". Inspired writing, my friend. Thanks for sharing this gem. Cheers ~ John

John Watt
Date: 9/6/2022 9:55:00 AM

I agree, such a great word. We could rename one of the months "Estuary" (January, February... )

Gary Radice
Date: 9/3/2022 3:51:00 AM

Thank you for reading it John and commenting in your usual brilliant style. Estuary is one of those words I like; the word itself gave rise to this poem. :) Cheers - Gary

Eric Cohen

Date: 6/7/2022 6:16:00 PM

A real gem. So much from so few words. The last two lines especially moving. Also love the flow (did not mean that as a pun).

Gary Radice
Date: 6/15/2022 12:35:00 PM

Thank you Eric! I appreciate your great comments. Many Thanks. Cheers - Gary

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 5/7/2022 3:02:00 PM

Lovely sense of tranquility and letting go, especially the last stanza-

Gary Radice
Date: 5/8/2022 12:51:00 AM

Thank you Michelle. A sense of tranquility was what I was after. Cheers - Gary

Craig Cornish

Date: 5/5/2022 1:10:00 PM

Perfect iambic tetrameter, but better yet, it becomes whole, not simply 4 couplets - the secret of excellent writing

Gary Radice
Date: 5/6/2022 12:32:00 PM

Craig, thanks so much for taking time out to read and comment. For one reason or another I often use iambic tetrameter in my poems. I just find it so natural. Cheers - Gary

Timothy Ray

Date: 5/4/2022 8:17:00 PM

i lived on an estuary in Mexico great capture of the environment therein, a lovely existence i sometimes sorely miss...thanks

Gary Radice
Date: 5/5/2022 8:46:00 AM

Thank you Timothy. I would love to live on an estuary. I live about half an hour from one though. Lovely place. Cheers- Gary

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 4/30/2022 3:20:00 AM

Congratulations, Gary, on your win. Your poem took me to a tranquil place - love these descriptions -"a place where screeching, circling birds". The final two lines are classic - the image of river meeting the ocean resonates with me. Thanks for visiting my poem. BW ~ Mala

Gary Radice
Date: 4/30/2022 9:50:00 AM

Hi Mala. Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I'm really happy with the win but moreso with the great comments the poem has received from Soupers. Cheers - Gary

Andy Chunn

Date: 4/29/2022 5:25:00 PM

You paint a beautiful picture with your words. Congratulations on such a descriptive rhyme.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/30/2022 1:11:00 AM

I appreciate your great comments Andy, thank you. Cheers - Gary

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 4/29/2022 1:54:00 AM

Congratulations on your wonderful second place with this gem Gary. Blessings xxoo

Gary Radice
Date: 4/29/2022 3:08:00 AM

Thank you Connie. It was a lovely surprise to get a podium place. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 4/29/2022 1:44:00 AM

A short beautiful rhyme. Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/29/2022 1:55:00 AM

Thank you Christuraj. I truly appreciate your feedback. Cheers - Gary

Tom Cunningham

Date: 4/28/2022 10:24:00 AM

A tranquil place Gary, where one can reflect on the past and try and see the future. Tom

Gary Radice
Date: 4/29/2022 1:29:00 AM

Hi Tom! I envisaged a tranquil place..on the edge of life and death..writing about the memories that never die..and I just love sand, sea, estuaries, wetlands..so peaceful and so calming. I'm catching up with my reads today and looking forward to it. Cheers - Gary

L Milton Hankins

Date: 4/28/2022 10:22:00 AM

Beautiful! I love poems like this about the ocean, estuaries, etc. They are my favorites. I could picture this one so well.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/29/2022 1:25:00 AM

Thanks Milt. I was playing around with an idea inspired by the American Poet Walt Whitman's "To Old Age" (From 'Leaves Of Grass')......."I see in you the estuary that enlarges and spreads itself grandly as it pours in the great sea." ....I just ran with it from there. :) Once again I'm behind on my reading. I'll catch up in the next day or so. Read you soon Milt and Cheers - Gary