Best Mourning(A) Poems
Do you want a tear?
Do you want one of mine? I've plenty to share:
for tears pool around my heart, and linger there.
Do you wish someone would shed a tear for you
because in reality, they never do?
Do you save a tear?
Do you save a tiny tear for you alone,
all your grief stored in that drop you call your own?
Do you think your heart can carry such a weight,
or break into fragments, bemoaning life's fate?
Do you fear a tear?
Do you fear you'll drown in a torrent of pain
as the tears spill from your eyes like drops of rain?
Do you believe spilling tears makes you look weak,
undermining the reputation you seek?
Do you hoard a tear?
Do you hoard a secret tear, one you won't share,
a tiny little drop you've hidden somewhere?
Do you silently shed that one single tear,
mourning a lonely life traumatized by fear?
At The Knife Edge Of That Deep, Dark Abyss
I that was born on a dark, stormy night
So gifted at young age, deeper insight,
Lead to safety of ever brighter Light
Freed from darkest of dark, began to write.
A child begging Nature to my pleas hear
Oft with whimpering words and falling tears,
Imaginative child, whispers one hears
Tempting shadows to hit me with more fears.
A teen, mourning a death that my soul broke
Farther into books my heart sat to soak,
Awaiting each, as black the ill wind blows
Felt such abhorrent fears, as such oft goes.
By birth, sponge set to seek out Master Poe.
Living, pen and paper, writing to grow.
Robert J. Lindley, 1-26-2020
Sonnet, ( Echoes Heard As Old Rooster Rose To Crow )
The Parting
Exodus 14
We stand sweating and thirsty by the shore
At the setting of Ra
A setting we’ve always anticipated
Bringing a glimpse of beauty to each day of toil
Beauty now eclipsed by a plumage of fire
Baking our scarred backs
Reflected heat scorching past us
To turn the red waters aflame
Red mixing with yellow
Glistening and churning
What Gehenna must look like
For it was the beginning of the end when Moses came
Since his God awakened from prolonged slumber
Awakened no doubt by the prayers of devout widows
Widows who still believe the stories about Joseph
And safe-keep his bones
But there’s no denying recent events
I thought we hated the Egyptians
But not compared to Moses’s God
And now what’s left of them are here
We hear their horses neighing, their muffled screams of insults and threats
All brought here by the same whirlwind of destiny
That besets us both
And now it is night
The reds and the yellows fade to black
Vibrant colors swept away by wind
And such a wind
Spraying the salt into our faces
Immersing us, maddening us further with thirst
Hour after hour after cursed hour
Ra returns at last
Revealing a scene we will never forget
We face a gauntlet of dry ground
The sea blown aside by relentless gales
The ground covered with clinging seaweed, craggy rocks, and freshly-dead fish
Shrieking seagulls are feasting and swarming like locusts
Holy smoke it is impressive
We stand agape for a moment
Then into this valley the old step first
Slow progress, stumbling, dodging, climbing
Walking through collateral damage
Frequently looking back
Expecting to be overrun by our oppressors
Ra sets again
We all have crossed
We turn and face the sea, now filling again
Swirling with them, horses and men
Gasping for air, dying one by one
Our tears unexpectedly cover the ground
Mourning a common humanity, a shared sorrow
And we feel again the heat on our backs
Heat from the endless desert, from an unknown fate
But O God
Still we thirst
Bullets have no eyes
In the mourning a son won’t rise
No plan in life for demise
Black men hear our cries
Stop shooting killing each other
We need love not hate brother
Time unwinds while you slang
Dealing in death please change
One mother and father miss
The hope denied by this
Feud so rude and senseless
That dude who killed their kid
You think you had reason to
End a life will bring misery blue
For you have to face the truth
Humanity is lacking in you
You can never undo evil deed
No matter what you plead
At night your closed eyes see
His eyes as life leaves he bleeds
Now your family members know
Who you really are in your soul
A killer despite reasons why
In a cell of a jail you will reside
When you choose to kill a man
You turn from God’s holy hand
You do the devil’s work indeed
You become a slave never free
So we lost you too you see
No longer an asset to be
No longer in the community
Not free to thrive and dream
Can you at least give back
By deterring youth from your path
Can you tell truth and testify
Reasons bullets have no eyes
World gone mad
Shots are fired, young kids expired
Schools are closed, no educators hired
Diseases spread, haven't you read
Land mines sown, too scared to tread
Where will it end, this world gone mad
The seas a mess, plastic detest
Clean the pollution, the only solution
Elephants, rhino, a homeless wino
Corruption rules, a madman drools
Where will it end, this world gone mad
The wilderness is tamed, the land all claimed
Oil prices falling, temperatures soaring
Bombs blasting, religious fasting
Third world dictators, forever asking
Where will it end, this world gone mad
Guns for sale, train left the rail
Planes falling, black boxes calling
Cities flood, covered in mud
Migrants marching, hope ever lasting
Where will it end, this world gone mad
A world of dread, monster under my bed
Famine unfolds, stories untold
A mother mourning, a daughter calling
No food to be fed, she'll soon be dead
Where will it end, this world gone mad
Sabers rattling, old men prattling
Wars unfold, soldiers grow bold, broken returning
Cowards at war, a broken door
Nuclear waste, left in haste
Where will it end, this world gone mad
Seas are rising, not surprising
Glaciers melt, the heat not felt.
Politicians yawning, fish not spawning
Whales dead, harpoon in the head
Were will it end, this world gone mad
Fossil fuels heating, Opec meeting
Nothing resolved, riches unfold
What have we learnt, the forest all burnt
Climate is failing, our children be wailing
Were will it end, this world gone mad
What can we do, dead gorilla in the zoo
Ignorant youth, electronics a hoot
Eight billion people on a planet for two
Who's the boss, I'm at a loss
Were will it end, this world gone mad
"A Mother's Crossroad"
staring at the tiny white casket
tears cascading as raindrops fell
sorrow surrounds my heart holding blue basket
with his favorite toys crying with toll of funeral bell.
though grief usurped my saddened soul
mourning a loss precious and dear
one memorable moment in time made whole
for a Mother's crossroad was drawin g near.
emotions swallowed my life that fateful day
no purpose seemed clear to live or exist
searching for answers; uttered words to pray
breathing had vanished inside Death's Mist.
should I fade into the Past?
should I retrieve from pain?
should I deny my family, at last,
to cease to be? what would I gain?
to bury a child hurts so very deep
yet change always makes Life turn
as the human heart avows to weep
for forging forward was my concern.
a Mother's crossroad healed within
while memories lingered of a sweet son
who gave me strength to seek to win
choosing a path toward a golden Sun.
*For Gail Angel Doyle's Standing At A Crossroads Contest.
*Written by: Linda-Marie The "Sweetheart" of P.S.
*Oct. 31, 2012.
Living Life
What if my life changed tomorrow
Or I slept the sleep of death
Would I leave a trail of sorrow
As I struggle for each breath
Would I have time to make amends
To those that I have wronged
And tell my beloved friends
How much I've loved them all along?
What if I should live
But the life that I once knew
Came crashing down around me
And my world was all askew
Would I have the courage
To accept it and go on
Or bemoan my fate forever
Mourning a life that now is gone?
In death you have no choice
As to when it comes to call
In life...there is no timetable
When tragedy will be befall
There are no second chances
In this life that we are living
Now is the only time we have
To be loving and forgiving
Live each day completely
As though it were your last
Cherish each and every moment
For life goes by too fast
Copyright©2004 Beatrice Boyle
(All rights reserved)
The way, in which I lived, so shall I die?
The sea salt washes up against rocks
and bleach the stones white
Like a genuine pearly stone. That when I knew
Someone was mourning a death.
The party was going strong
The doorbell rang. In that moment
Everything changes.
Speak low, lean low
Turn down the tempo
A sudden death; another wealthy mortal man
Took his last breathe.
Did he pass the test?
Bending over and sniffing the coke
By the mountain load;
Cocaine scattered all over the desk. Money burnt
How you lived, so shall you die?
Why cry. That was your life.
He became the cocaine and
His mind became retarded
The salty breeze massages my scalp
As they soul jump into to the sea
longing to be cleanses
Speaking low, leaning low their noses
Are on fire: another lost soul
Bolivian marching powder
Drip, drip drops of blood
Vanish out to sea.
a different kind of philosophy
The Devil philosophy
‘BLACK SHEEP DRAWBACK’
Discouraged, anxious and unsure—pitch black tarmacs start their war
Petrified, panicked and distressed—uncertainty cracks amidst unwelcomed guests
Dissociated and desensitised a perfect attack—as nervous disposition follows predictable tracks
Another prestigious black tie event—suites and shoes will seldom boycott consents
Perfected flair keeping companies in the black—elegantly formal their wives attack
Each one attired in the colour of grief—sadness and mourning a blackmailed thief
There stands Jack, in a room that is packed—emotionally elusive, cunningly drawn back
Mysterious, powerful negative dirt tracks—black-market malevolence no visible cracks
Observation, lack of confidence to engage—courage imminently pending and upstaged
An edgy apprehensive shrink-back—protection from impulsive reactive, confused attacks
Alarming blackout to opinions of others—ignoring motives of guaranteed buffers
A black sheep just got blacklisted again—anticipation of recurring hurt and pain
I've spoken with the
rain, it explained
it to you
It got upset with my
sadness and made me
cry
I've covered me with
sadness, wailing /
mourning a dirge
Do you hear the
sound of the rain?
The rain began to
speak, it rained
with love
Everywhere it fell,
wrote your name
I covered me with
the night and I
climbed the mountain
When I arrived on
the top, I saw your
dream
I felt I'm Mecnun
and you're Leyla*
Do you hear the
sound of the
mountains?
The mountains began
to speak and they
called you
They reached the
ground and shouted
your name
When I look at the
moon, you were there
You turned your face
and searched for me
Your wish was to see
me?
Do you hear the
sound of the moon?
The moon began to
speak and it started
to glow
Everywhere it went,
it carried your love
If you'd take a look
at the sun, you are
my sun
In this world
there's no other
like you
Your sudden
departure, made me
so sad
Do you hear the
sound of the sun?
The sun began to
speak,it confused
the way
The fire fan raced
with me
I turned my face to
the ground
and I see you and
your hazel eyes
I miss you so much
my love, I miss the
beauty of your face
Do you hear the
sound of the land?
Land began to speak
and it looked at my
face
This love inside me
is mourning a
turkish dirge
A woman of mystery
Dressed in red
The blood of jealous women's misery
Her mouth is discretionary
Her words planned perfectly
Others fix their mouths loosely
But with her details, she's choosey
She only said
What she wants spread
Her stories are wildfire
The gossip about her never tires
She sees it all but is blind
To admirers and liars
Her eyes downcast
As though others are sire
But it's obvious she's a Queen
The streets are her Empire
She walks with so much power
Her strength turns real ones into cowards
She's comfortable in solitude
But can mingle in bursts like spring showers
Watering their minds,
Changing attitudes
Leaving the destitute
In gratitude
Though she's a Queen,
Her greatest joy is servitude
Oh, but won't hate make waves
Even those the Queen helped
Can be swayed
She was never forceful
She won't persuade them to stay
She'll still be here
After they've strayed
And she'll welcome them back
As though it didn't cause her dismay
Though she personally removed the swords
After being betrayed
See, perfection was her greatest imperfection
She mirrored the worst of other's projections
She should have detached
But she allowed the belief
That it was her who needed correction
Blinding those with her light
Wasn't her intention
So she dimmed her light in redemption
Oh, it made the shadows dance,
But in turn revoked her ascension
The realest one
Undone
By misconceptions
A haggard with no secrets
Dressed in black
Telling a story of regret
Of mourning a death
Her mouth is crooked
From the addictions picked up
Trying to regain a high
That she used to feel all the time
All that's the same,
Are her downcast eyes
But now they seek coins on the street
Not humility
And her outbursts are strategic,
To appear crazy
When you give them something to talk about,
It makes their lips idle
It wasn't until she consciously spiraled
That she spared herself from
Gossip, slander and libel
What a paradoxical method of survival
The homicide of a rival
And suicide of an idol
America, Remember
Here I stand with emotions over sweeping.
Flooding through my soul and being.
Tears flood my eyes and stream down my face.
As I look upon, His saving grace.
A soldier beside me, only on leave.
Mourning a comrad. How I feel him grieve.
His bravery and valor floods my soul.
Of what he gives freely, America is fooled.
I support you my brother and lift you to God.
For only He knows, the soils you have trod.
I give my thanks and I praise His name.
For all like you giving America her name.
God Bless you all from sea to shining sea.
God give us Liberty and let us remain Free.
One Nation Under God and In God I trust.
It is important for America to remember.
Or This great nation will turn to dust.
It moves me,
soothes me,
cuts to the core
and pierces
right through me.
Prison of wood.
Bars of strings.
Captured notes.
The canary sings.
Broken hearts burned to ash.
Melodic nuclear winter.
Injustice causing retort.
Revolution's chief dissenter.
Weaver of composers basket
to carry heart's message.
Ballad of a howling wind
mourning a loved one's passage.
Light burst of a sun cloud.
The note of depression's end.
Version audio, a springtime flower.
New life and courage to lend.
Dancing light on the water.
Cheerful bird in flight.
Rising as the morning sun.
Shooting star across the night.
The music flows and bends.
Following the player's will.
Causing my breath to catch.
Making my heart lay still.
Some chords speak of romance.
Others mourn and cry.
Those that delight at dance.
Symphony carried on a high.
Who knew a simple piece of timber
could share something so human?
May the artists' fingers stay limber,
and express all that they can.
-Angel Fatale-
On the day of new claimed values
Dawn was celebrated together
Abscond to a new life just to breathe
Gone are the days of your fair weather
Morning comes, life goes on
Warnings forgotten, party harder
Mourning a youth wasted in drinks
Adorning memories with placated ardor
Who will remember your remorse but you?
You regret for no absolute reason
To admit to yourself, nothing stays the same
True remains the thought throughout your seasons.
Mourning a loss with eyes sore,
The bed calls for me to get some rest,
If you can call it that,
I twist and turn and can not find comfort,
Hope for dreams every night,
Pillow under my head,
Back against my lover,
I drift with hope,
One day she might forget me,
So she can find love again.