I hear tomorrow’s footsteps moving toward today, as sure as I know yesterday is gone. I hear words yet to be spoken, feel hearts before they’re broken, and watch as moonlight melts into the dawn. Still my head is heavy with the thought that I must leave. I’m not some stage magician with white doves up my sleeve. A single life is what you get, just one to call your own. And in spite of what preachers or poets say the time I have left is on loan.
This is quite a stark diagnosis of our mortality, and there’s no escaping it no matter what we do. And though you may not be a magician when it comes to avoiding an inevitable date with the Grim Reaper someday, you certainly are a bit of a magician when it comes to writing poems. This is another fine one, Paul.
I’ll keep it up for a bit longer. August will begin my fourth year and I’m trying to decide what direction I want to go with this. Hearing from you helps the process—thank you!
Hi Paul, “the time I have left is on loan” reverberated in me. I often sit in a recliner in the corner of our bedroom. Recently, I
Looked up and saw our bed and the picture above it in a startling new way: I saw it as our adult daughter would see it when she viewed it after our deaths. The beiges and blues of walls and comforter. The slight disarray of the throw pillows. And, our absences. It wasn’t a long reflection but it felt like time travel, looking back on her when our loan came due, Daniel
Thank you for sharing this poem, @Joan Vinall-Cox, Ph.D.
Thank you for the poem.
Thank you, @Teresa Gonzales
Thank you, @Alison Redford
Thank you for the restack, @Wild Lion*esses Pride by Jay
Thanks to @Nimita Kaul for this restack—much appreciated!
My pleasure entirely Paul! Another amazing poem 🎉
Good morning, @Lique, and thanks for restacking this.
Thank you for sharing this, @Maureen Doallas
My thanks to @Franco Amati for this restack.
Thank you for reading and restacking this poem, @mitch. Hugs to you!
This is quite a stark diagnosis of our mortality, and there’s no escaping it no matter what we do. And though you may not be a magician when it comes to avoiding an inevitable date with the Grim Reaper someday, you certainly are a bit of a magician when it comes to writing poems. This is another fine one, Paul.
Thanks, Martin.
Each of your poems is a surprise, and every day I wait for those footsteps coming from the future—what I call Paul’s poems
Thank you, Rolando. What a nice thing to read early in the morning—Thank you. The day just got a little brighter!
You're welcome Paul. And thanks for offering your amazing poetry to this community
I’ll keep it up for a bit longer. August will begin my fourth year and I’m trying to decide what direction I want to go with this. Hearing from you helps the process—thank you!
I totally agree with you Rolando.
We all have the same lender, just different interest and due dates.
Well put, Carole. I don’t believe the lender offers extensions on the original note, either.
Not often, but sometimes in extenuating circumstances!
Surely a cathartic poem to write. Thanks
Thanks, Wes—I appreciate the comment!
Thankfully, we all share the same diagnosis..❤
Excellent poem Paul. Thanks... A new one? I wonder if the the penultimate line might better start with "No matter what.. "
I think that would make a better line, Ron. Live and learn. Thank you!
Hi Paul, “the time I have left is on loan” reverberated in me. I often sit in a recliner in the corner of our bedroom. Recently, I
Looked up and saw our bed and the picture above it in a startling new way: I saw it as our adult daughter would see it when she viewed it after our deaths. The beiges and blues of walls and comforter. The slight disarray of the throw pillows. And, our absences. It wasn’t a long reflection but it felt like time travel, looking back on her when our loan came due, Daniel
Hi Paul, it was like we were truly gone and the impact of that simple scene had brought our absences home to her. It felt very sad.
How unusual, Daniel—thank you for sharing! Was there any physical feeling that accompanied this, peace or something else?