Lo, This is Earthly Life!
A medico girl, young she was;
A brilliant Madurai lass;
While coming to her afternoon class,
She DIED by the road-side, alas!
A van had hit her directly;
She met her death most instantly;
With clavicle and fractured skull,
She was injured occipital;
And in the shatt’ring glass’ sounds,
She bled like hell and died at once!
She’as rushed to our hospital, altho’
She passed away in minutes, oh!
In a pool of blood, her head just lay;
To save her life, there was no way.
Doctors and students, rushed to see
Her corpse but stood just silently;
Fate had been so cruel to snatch
A life in teens from her dear batch!
Oh, what a shock, her batch-mates had!
The tragedy was indeed sad;
It was an accident! Alright,
At noon-time and in bright sunlight:
But had she escaped, she’d have been
A doctor with an extra sheen.
Yet, God didn’t give her one more chance
Or save her from Death’s noon-time dance!
A victim of a fatal game,
V. Dhanalakshmi was her name.
The silence was soon broken by
The laments of students near-by;
‘Dhana, we love you! ’- They all cried;
But in a trice, the girl had died.
‘Dana, don’t leave us! ’ they all wept;
But in the Lord, she happily slept.
They cried and cried till mid-night came;
They screamed all stunned- who was to blame?
Her class-mates sat round her weeping,
Until her parents came, leaping;
Too shocked for words, they looked like ghosts!
And cried aloud: all stood like posts.
All night, all wept, again, again;
All hearts were anguished and in pain;
‘Dhana’- she lay under a shroud;
I heard their cries all clear and loud.
And in the night, I heard one noise;
The birds all spoke in one strange voice-
‘DHANA, we love you, we love you.’
‘DHANA, we miss you, we’ll miss you.
And this is what the earth can give;
With life for life’s cause, let’s all live.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
My dear Kitty
That day I found you
That day I became blue
The day I was balling
the day my heart was falling
That day you was leaving
Was my first day of grieving
That day you looked me in the eyes
Was the day I heard your cries
The day you died
Was the first time I cried
The day I had to bury you
It was the hardest thing to let go of you.
That day I screamed dont die
Was the day I left you lie....
That day the dog bite you
was the day I almost killed him
That day you died.
Was not the last day I cried
The day God had set for you
Was the day I will never forget who,
That day I let you out,
was the day I found out
How much I regret it,
For I must admit
I miss you sooo,
That Its jus to hard to show.
That day you died
Was not the first or last time I cried!
poem by Jade Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Night I Cried
The night i cried
You weren't anymore there
Tears were heavy
No one asked me to share.
The night i cried
I cried whole night
Thinking of u my love
tears didn't stop a while.
The night i cried
I didn't want to cry
But i cried all night
still didn't know why.
The night i cried
I didn't wipe out my tears
I let them flow away
With the pain i preserved for years.
The night i cried
I silently sang something
That made me miss you more
Even more than i ever did.
The night i cried
My eyes couldn't sleep
My mind was going on asking me
Why i went so deep....
poem by Meera Santoshi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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He Cried
I need you
Simple words
But words which had never been heard
By the soul
Stoned to death
But still living
And so he froze where he stood
And he looked to the ground
And he cried
He cried
Ride our minds
If you must
But theres always a line you dont cross
Time is short
Dont be cruel
Oh you dont know the power
In what youre saying
Oh ...
And so he froze where he stood
And he looked to the ground
And he cried
He cried
People where
I come from
They survive without feelings or blood
I never could
Was stoned to death
But Im still living
So he froze where he stood
And he looked to the ground
And he cried
He cried
So he froze
And he looked, and he looked
To the ground
And he cried
He cried
song performed by by Morrissey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We Cry
The 10th of June, passing of our Son
We Cried
9mins holding him tight, words not spoken
We cried
Time of Death given,8pm
We Cried
Just 7 doors down from home, is all we keep saying
We Cried
6 Drunken teens, drove down our son that night
We Cried
The Fifth Commandment, thou shall not kill
We Cried
Four days later, our son lays beneath the earth
We Cried
The Driver receives 3yrs, is that my sons worth
We Cried
Two years good behavior, he walks the streets
We Cried
We only had One son his name was Micheal, our son
We Cry
It shouldn't have been his NUMBER calling
Still here we Cry
poem by Brad Phillips
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tis Thanks - Giving Time
With just two years for Diamond jubilee,
We Stanleyans meet once again this year;
Eight years had passed since Golden jubilee,
Our batch-mates join with kith and kin and dear!
We thank God first for His immense kindness,
He blessed our lives in much strange ways so far;
We thank Him for His enormous fondness
for us, all doctors without any bar!
Our life on earth was great enough, we think;
We had our days of woes and quarrels, mirth;
Life gave us experiences fit to ink;
We thank our parents for this useful birth!
We thank our teachers who moulded our clay
to take on challenges in life always;
We thank our friends for love we couldn’t repay,
and neighbours who helped us to spend our days!
Our life on earth was worth living life-time!
We thank the stars for giving us the chance;
Our labour paid off well and made us prime;
We still can work and pray and sing and dance!
Our hearts go out to those unfortunate,
Who could not see the light of world, unborn!
We thank our patients who with pleasure wait
to seek our consultation from each morn!
Their gladness knew no bounds when we could heal;
Our hearts were very sad when we could not;
Nevertheless, it was life’s game and deal;
We can’t describe the satisfaction got!
We thank the Maker who healed all the sick;
Our roles were small when lives returned, though gone;
We were just candle-wax; God was lit-wick!
We had to melt to light the world, though dawn!
We thank our students who became our peers;
We thank our nation for giving us fame;
We thank our college for making us seers;
We thank all souls who helped attain our aim!
We thank the day for affording this meet;
Our joy is great to speak to batch-mates old;
With evergreen memories and love, we greet!
Our achievements were far better than gold!
We are not scared of death and have no fear
as life was fine, and eyes have become dim!
We know our day to leave this earth is near,
for Maker calls us mortals to meet Him!
Fondly dedicated by Dr. A. Celestine Raj Manohar M.D.,
Dean, IRT Perundurai Medical College, Perundurai, ERODE
to beloved Dr. TGR’s batch of Medical professionals
from Stanley Medical College, Chennai on 06-12-11 Meet
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Today... 'Eternal Life
Eternal Life. Death has no hold on You
for a sinless life You lived Faithful and True.
When time shall cease and worlds no longer be
You shall live on throughout eternity.
This Life has appeared and was seen by men.
The Son of God has come and has given
understanding to know the One Who is true
for He Who was with the Father is You.
I have been to Your cross and seen You there
and cried out to You in my great despair.
'Forgive me Lord, I don't know what to do, '
you heard me cry as I confessed to You.
'It is finished, ' You cried upon the tree
as Your earthly life You gave up for me.
You exchanged my life for an endless one
and Eternal Life in me has begun.
Reaching out to me in great love You bear
my awful sins upon Your shoulders there.
Such healing I received at Calvary
and there Eternal Life began for me.
Death has been swallowed up in victory
no longer the grave has a hold on me.
Though once hell held captive and domineered
no longer its portals are to be feared.
No more shall life be three score years and ten
or limits placed upon the years of men.
For Christ came to this earth that blesséd day
and died to take the sting of death away.
Oh how can I thank You for Your mercy.
Nobody else has shown such love to me.
Please help me Lord her on this earth to show
by my life the debt of love that I owe.
(see also the additional information below in the Poet's box)
Today... 'Word of Life
I heard the Word of Life speak to me
He opened my eyes so I could see.
New life sprang up in me that day
When I heard the Words He had to say.
'This is how much I love you, ' He cried
as He stretched out His arms so wide.
For He had died so that I might live
The Word of Life cried 'Father forgive'
(see also the additional information in the Poet's notes box below)
So You Died
so you died!
when i heard,
i cried.
you were apple
of my eyes,
love of my life.
when you
left my side
i died.
i died
when you died.
poem by Efe Benjamin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I cried Today
I cried today...and not cuz ur gone but becuz i thought feelingz were strong
I cried today...and not by myself but wit that Keyshia Cole Song
I cried today...and didn't know what to do for the 1st time in my life
I cried today...It was worst pain then gettin shanked wit a knife
I cried today...about u and me, and where we go frm here
I cried today...wit so much PRIDe it was HARD to hold bak tears
I cried today...I wrote a poem I even rote a rhyme
I cried today...As if I weren't used to dis I cry all the time
I cried today...Thinking about the love that we once shared
I cried today...I cudn't see clearly..as if my vision's impaired
I cried today...And I really don't care how much they call me dumb
I cried today...cuz they dont know what it feels to be REALLY in love
I cried today...without a sound but, wit the reality in my mind
Tellin me I don't gotta cry TOday....cuz love will only TAKE TImE!
poem by Nesean Coombs
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Cross Of Christ
The jeering crowd like jackals stood,
To see what must be done.
Though once they thought this man was good,
They didn't see God's Son.
They called Him Rabbi, Teacher, Lord,
Yet now He was Rome's slave.
So all His claims were now ignored,
For who was He to save?
The nails were driven deep inside...
More drops of blood soon fell...
Once lifted, hoisted, crucified,
His life was just like Hell.
Torment and torture lay ahead.
Excruciating pain.
His scourged back stung and bled and bled
As briars bruised His brain.
His mother wept each passing hour.
'Dear God, have pity, please! '
And yet there came no sign of power,
No rescue, no release.
The soldiers gambled for His clothes.
One wash and they'd be clean.
His life and death the Father chose,
Thus stays the Nazarene.
'It is finished! ' the Saviour screamed
With one great final sigh...
Though not defeated as it seemed,
For Jesus had to die.
To think, the Holy Spirit shares
Forgiveness in His Name!
No other man on Earth compares.
Not one could do the same.
For all have sinned and gone astray
Like sheep in darkest night.
But blessed are they that find the Way
And walk within His light...
He died for you. He died for me.
God's Son fulfilled God's plan.
From Calvary came clemency!
Behold the Son of Man!
Behold the blood! Behold the Lord!
For this man was the Christ!
The Lamb of God! His heart outpoured!
The Saviour sacrificed!
Oh, who can count the callous sins
That Jesus suffered for?
Behold the precious Prince of Peace,
The King of Love and more!
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Christ Crucified
Now ere I slept, my prayer had been that I might see my way
To do the will of Christ, our Lord and Master, day by day;
And with this prayer upon my lips, I knew not that I dreamed,
But suddenly the world of night a pandemonium seemed.
From forest, and from slaughter house, from bull ring, and from stall,
There rose an anguished cry of pain, a loud, appealing call;
As man – the dumb beast’s next of kin – with gun, and whip, and knife,
Went pleasure-seeking through the earth, blood-bent on taking life.
From trap, and cage, and house, and zoo, and street, that awful strain
Of tortured creatures rose and swelled the orchestra of pain.
And then methought the gentle Christ appeared to me and spoke:
‘I called you, but ye answered not’ – and in my fear I woke.
Then next I heard the roar of mills; and moving through the noise,
Like phantoms in an underworld, were little girls and boys.
Their backs were bent, their brows were pale, their eyes were sad and old;
But by the labour of their hands greed added gold to gold.
Again the Presence and the Voice: ‘Behold the crimes I see,
As ye have done it unto these, so have ye done to me.’
Again I slept. I seemed to climb a hard, ascending track;
And just behind me laboured one whose patient face was black.
I pitied him; but hour by hour he gained upon the path;
He stood beside me, stood upright – and then I turned in wrath.
‘Go back! ’ I cried. ‘What right have you to walk beside me here?
For you are black, and I am white.’ I paused struck dumb with fear.
For lo! the black man was not there, but Christ stood in his place;
And oh! the pain, the pain, the pain that looked from his dear face.
Now when I woke, the air was rife with that sweet, rhythmic din
Which tells the world that Christ has come to save mankind from sin.
And through the open door of church and temple passed a throng,
To worship Him, with bended knee with sermon, and with song.
But over all I heard the cry of hunted, mangled things;
Those creatures which are part of God, though they have hoofs and wings.
I saw the mill, the mine, and shop, the little slaves of greed;
I heard the strife of race with race, all sprung from one God-seed.
And then I bowed my head in shame, and in contrition cried –
‘Lo, after nineteen hundred years, Christ still is crucified.’
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rain On Me
Mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...
Mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...
Mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...mmm...
I'm lookin' in the mirror
At this woman down and out
She's internally dyin'
I know this was not what love's about
I don't wanna be this woman
The second time around
'Cause I'm wakin' up screamin',
no longer believin'
That I'm gonna be around
And over and over I tried
and over and over you lied
and over and over I cried, yeah
I don't know why
And over and over I tried
and over and over you lied
and over and over I cried, yeah
I don't know why
Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe
Baby, just rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe, no
See, I don't want to hold my pillow late at night
no more
I'm tossin' and turnin'
and thinkin' 'bout burnin' down these walls
I-I don't wanna fuel this fire no more,
no more, no more
See, I made up my mind
'cause I've wasted my time
Ain't nothin' here to keep me warm
And over and over I tried
and over and over you lied
and over and over I cried, yeah
I don't know why
And over and over I tried
and over and over you lied
and over and over I cried, yeah
I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried, I cried
Oh...oh...oh...oh...
Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe
Baby, just rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe, no
I'm so tired of the rain
In my life
And I'm so tired of the strain
And now you're gonna lie
'Cause sometimes I can't sleep at night and
This here it just don't seem right and
Sometimes I just wonder why I
Don't know, let my life go by
'Cause sometimes I can't sleep at night and
This here it just don't seem right and
Sometimes I just wonder why I
Don't know, let my life go by
Oh...oh...oh...oh...oh...oh...
Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe
Baby, just rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe, no
Rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe
Baby, just rain on me
Lord, won't you take this pain from me
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe, no
Ooh...ooh...
Ooh...ooh...
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la...
La-la-la-la-la-la
Ooh...ooh...ooh...
song performed by by Ashanti
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Ain't A Lovesong
I should have seen it coming when the roses died
Should have seen the end of summer in your eyes
I should have listened when you said good night
You really meant good bye
Baby ain't it funny how you never ever learn to fall
You're really on your knees when you think you're standing tall
But only fools are know-it-alls and I've played that fool for you
I cried and cried every night
There were nights that I died for you baby
I tried and I tried to deny it that your love drove me crazy baby
If the love that I got for you is gone
If the river I've cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong yeah I'm wrong
This ain't a love song
Baby I thought you and me would
Stand the test of time
Like we got away with the perfect crime
But we were just a legend in my mind
I guess that I was blind
Remember those nights dancing at the masquerade
The clowns wore smiles that wouldn't fade
You and I were the renegades some things never change
It made me so mad 'cause I wanted it bad for us baby
And now it's so sad that whatever we had
Ain't worth saving oh oh oh
If the love that I've got for you is gone
If the river I've cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong yes I'm wrong
This ain't a love song
If the pain that I'm feeling so strong
Is the reason that I'm holding on
Then I'm wrong yeah I'm wrong
This ain't a love song
I cried and I cried every night
There were nights that I died for you baby
I tried and I tried to deny it that
Your love drove me crazy
If the love that I got for you is gone
If the river I cried ain't that long
Then I'm wrong yeah I'm wrong
This ain't a love song
Then I'm wrong yeah I'm wrong
This ain't a love song
oh oh oh no no
song performed by by Bon Jovi from These Days
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I Was Young I Cried
When I was young I cried when I was sad, when I was young I cried when I was happy, when I was young I cried when I wanted something, when I was young I cried when I was lonely, when I was young I cried when I had to say goodbye, when I was young I cried when my feelings were hurt, when I was young I cried when I wasn't accepted, when I was young I cried when I was mocked, when I was young I cried for attention, when I was young I cried when I was scared, when I was young I cried when I hurt others, when I was young I cried when I felt physical pain, when I was young I cried when I was jealous, when I was young I cried when I lost someone or when I was lost somewhere, when I was young I cried when I didn't know, and now as an adult I cry because I understand.
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If i Died Today
If idied today i would cry
i would cry for all the time i spent being sad
when i could have been smiling
if i died today i would weep
i would weep for all the love i never felt
when i was alive
If i died today i would be sad
sad that i never really got to feel special,
loved and cared for
If i died today it would break my heart
break my heart for all the times i have cried,
cried because i was in pain
if i died today i would be regretful
regretful for all for all the time wasted on vanity
and worrying what other people will think of me
if i died today i would forgive myself
forgive myself for being my best enemy
forgive myself for hating me so much
if i died today i would be devasted
devasted that i never really got to appreciate,
appreciate myself
if i died today i would feel lost because,
i have never really known
or found myself
if i died today i would miss me
i would miss me because i forgot all about mealong time ago
if i died to day i would cry for me.
poem by Elizabeth Jacqueline Mpanga
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My brother
Nascent you were to this macrocosm,
Blessed you were to parents,
Dyspoeic, unsounded from mother's womb you emerged,
Many conceived you were with Jesus,
Afore brought forth into beingness.
Doctors resuscitate with oxygen mask,
Travail, thirty minutes passed brought you back.
Triumphant over death, won life for yourself.
Whence you cried, Father gloating in joy cried a river.
Thence avouch, sweven God's work as you grow a man.
engendered after, saw father's fond on you.
Through many years of togetherness;
Pettifogger we fought and punished.
Though non twins, grew more like identical.
when you cried a child, I cried and still does.
Such is the love of brother, my brother.
Thither you went away to boarding school.
Whereby learned ways, good and bad.
And drew more to wassailer, drunkenness.
dissever we became, perceived I abhorred my brother.
Fondly Imbibe in whisky, disremembering your sole purpose,
So fond nearly you died like once when born half dead.
And whence in hospital bed you battled for life,
I cried a river, my brother.
I do not hate as I hate cockatrice,
I care more than I care the girl of my life.
And whence you live wastefully rummy, I rue.
Come at able, find oneself and the purpose, my brother.
The life you once battled and won when first born,
Be not languish in vain.
Be cumbered and hugger-mugger no more.
Ere in final resting place you lay,
I invoke to envision you gratified after years.
Heedless of how you impeach, I despise;
I merely have one brother.
My brother! My brother.
poem by Sukkum Chang
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Us & Them
Us, and them
And after all we're only ordinary men.
Me, and you.
God only knows it's noz what we would choose to do.
Forward he cried from the rear
and the front rank died.
And the general sat and the lines on the map
moved from side to side.
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who.
Up and down.
But in the end it's only round and round.
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
The poster bearer cried.
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside.
"I mean, they're not gunna kill ya, so if you give 'em a quick short,
sharp, shock, they won't do it again. Dig it? I mean he get off
lightly, 'cos I would've given him a thrashing - I only hit him once!
It was only a difference of opinion, but really...I mean good manners
don't cost nothing do they, eh?"
Down and out
It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about.
With, without.
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?
Out of the way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind.
For the want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died.
song performed by by Pink Floyd from Dark Side Of The Moon (1972)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life Imprisoned
On both sides the desert lies,
Vast stretches of sand flys.
That shroud the moor and sky,
Through the desert road runs by,
Too many towered cities high,
Here and there people go,
Nazim cries in voice high and low.
Veiled in a ghetto below,
Lays lass with eyes glow.
II
Dates, eucalyptus, palm quiver,
Dusty and hot winds raising fever,
Man folk chatter without any manner,
Writhing with pain under the hot towers,
Cry for a space in cool bowers
And the cruel city empowers,
The rogues to chain and torture,
The beautiful veiled lass in tears,
Tears and tears but no sympathy ever.
III
In the towers women in veil,
Moving with heavy trail,
Sad and disheveled sail,
If recently freed from jail.
But no one has seen her face frail,
Or exchanging her happy mail,
Only fellow sisters and animals hail,
Among the hardened bearded males,
Heard an elegy sad and sail.
IV
Inside she works night and day,
A dark world in colors grey,
She was told as Allah say,
Forbidden to breathe free and gay,
Only to produce children and stay,
Unknown of the curse wormy,
Covered from top to bottom steadily,
Reading the book sadly and holy,
Chanted loudly, slowly and reputedly.
V
Sometimes group of traders glad,
A procession of ulemas glad,
Skull cap, knee salwar and shirt long clad,
Sometimes a herd of camels sad,
Outlawed to music and young cupids wed,
She has no young suitor glowed,
To make love with his iron shield,
Is it a life or curse she cried?
I am sick of this black shroud.
VI
A hajji came surrounded by faithfuls,
The sun was dazzling without lull,
That sparkled in the sand dull,
The apron white glittered full,
Young face and brow glow in sunlight still,
Head was clear of all the curls,
He was flashing in the sky purple,
Faith was ready to break and hurl.
VII
She threw the veil and left the room,
In quick paces jumped the gloom,
Unaware of her coming doom,
She saw his face bright and plume,
Faithfuls around were straining,
Leaves and plants became pale and waning,
Birds and animals in the rest complaining,
Low and heavy clouds raining,
And words in the throats were draining.
VIII
Down she came out on the road fast,
Over her face grim drops afloat,
Like a Hindu saint on her sad lot,
Dropping tears in his holy pot,
Running robbed in pale and white,
Madly rushed left and right,
Faithfuls heard her song last,
Lay beheaded, lifeless along blood hot
Under the sun left by mad might.
XI
Left dead and dry under the sun,
All came out to know her name,
Died the mirth of world fame,
All and sundry cried and ram,
She has a beautiful and dear frame,
God in His heaven bless this dame,
Poor girl was she died of faith human.
Away on a wall, calling a bearded Nazim,
Failed and ignorant about the girl’s doom.
BY
DR. YOGESH SHARMA
poem by Dr. Yogesh Sharma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Boy And Girl
it was your basic love and death story
a boy and a girl met and thought it was going to last 4 ever
turns out nothing lasted that long
the boy left the girl claiming he no longer loved her
the girl slid down to the floor and cried until she could'nt cry any more
the girl avoided the boy no matter how much he tried to talk to her
the boy was sad. he never meant to really hurt her
but he did anyway
the girl commited suicide
the boy lived but cried until he died
poem by Taylor Marie
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Pearls of Verna Boone
I'd been alone for a year or so
Since Norma Jean had died,
I stayed in the house I'd bought for her
At the end of River Drive,
I'd felt her death as a fatal blow,
A crippling twist of fate,
For Norma Jean was my one true love,
Though I'd met her a little late!
I was past my prime when our eyes had met,
And she'd looked so young to me,
Her eyes had sparkled like diamonds set
As scarabs in sand and sea,
She saw the desert behind my eyes,
The emptiness in my life,
I stumbled over the words, but she
Said 'Yes! ' - She would be my wife!
I didn't know that she carried then
The seeds of a painful death,
Her face was flushed at the altar stone
And she seemed so short of breath,
I thought it merely a passing faint
That excitement had brought on,
As we stood in front of the Minister,
And joined our lives as one.
But then at home, she fell apart,
Collapsed on the kitchen floor,
I saw her lying, and coughing blood
Like I'd never seen before,
The doctor called, and he shook his head
As he left her there in the bed,
'I'm very sorry, ' the doctor sighed,
'But your lovely wife is dead! '
I cried and raged, and swore at fate
I smashed each wedding gift,
I wouldn't go to the funeral
But stayed at home and wept.
I cursed the heavens and thought that hell
Could never have been as bad
As a love that I'd waited a lifetime for,
A love that I'd never had!
The house next door was a rental place,
Stood empty for months that year,
But then a couple had moved on in,
I didn't see him, just her.
I thought that he was a traveller,
Was constantly on the road,
He came at night, and he left at dawn
In a battered and ancient Ford.
I had no reason to talk to them,
I sat at home with my grief,
I wandered out in the garden then
At one with each falling leaf,
But then one day, I heard her there
The other side of the fence,
Breaking her heart, as crying there
She sobbed with vehemence.
After a week of this, I climbed
The fence, and spoke to her,
'Why do you sigh, why do you cry? '
But she cried then all the more.
I walked around and sat with her
Quite late in the afternoon,
She smiled, and dried her eyes, and said,
'My name is Verna Boone! '
She said she'd only been married
Just a year this coming Spring,
But now that she knew the man he was,
Regretted everything,
He'd lost her money, just gambled it,
Had spent it on other girls,
And now they were left with nothing, he
Just wanted her mother's pearls!
'They're all I have to remember her, '
She sobbed, like a frightened child,
'They're worth a lot, but they're more to me, '
She looked at me, and smiled.
She took me inside and pulled them out
Three strings, they were very fine,
'He said that he's going to pawn them! '
Then she put her small hand in mine.
I was sad, alone and vulnerable,
I looked at her lovely curls,
She smiled at me, and she asked me then
If I'd care for her mother's pearls?
'I'll say they're lost, misplaced, I'll say,
He'll rant and rage, and more,
But he won't be able to pawn them now...'
Then she walked me to the door.
I took her home, and I placed the pearls
With the gems my wife had once:
'They'll be all right in the downstairs safe.'
It was then that she saw the gun.
She looked afraid, but she picked it up
And weighed it there in her hand,
I took it gently and locked it up
With the rest of my contraband.
'She must have watched as I spun the dial,
I know - I was such a fool! '
The sergeant sat and he stared at me,
And his stare was distant, cool.
He didn't believe a word I said
I could see that now, I'm done!
They put me back in a cell to wait
To be charged with Murder One!
She told them I had come over when
Her husband came home one night,
Waving a gun and ranting, then
Her husband put up a fight!
I'd shot him once through the head, she said,
Then taken her on the bed,
Stolen a fine pearl necklace,
Then beaten and left her for dead!
They found the gun on the floor, they said,
I knew that the gun was mine,
They found the pearls in my safe, they said,
It was only a question of time.
She sat at the back of the court while I
Was stood in the prisoner's dock,
And I noticed she wore her mother's pearls
With a nice new evening frock.
10 August 2009
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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