The End Begins
The end begins,
not with the first stain
of red sputum on a white handkerchief.
Nor by fingers grown numb with
seizure from the heart’s decay.
But, with an act
that leaves a toy discarded
in the nursery of early choice,
reviving for abandoned deeds
the doppel-gangers of dead youths,
clothed with reproach and unfleshed
figments of the mind’s high hopes of
futures fenced in a child’s green field
that now is hedged; and ploughed,
and grown bitter with a
named and known crop.
© James Rainsford 2011
Note to readers: Posted for the poets visiting the bar at dVerse Poets. Your feedback is welcome. Please click on the tab below to leave a comment. I'll try to respond to all who visit here.
Kind regards, James.
You delved right into life with this piece. "doppel-gangers" really stood out, a tad grim too. Brilliantly done.
ReplyDeletethere is def a heaviness to this piece james...dopple gangers of dead youths is a great line..as is bitter with a named and known crop...well penned...
ReplyDeleteso sad and haunting... a lovely share ~
ReplyDeleteThe end of one or the end of all? I often wonder. A sobering and discerning piece.
ReplyDeletesad and lovely.
ReplyDeleteLife... in just a few lines.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for this thoughtful post and
ReplyDeleteuse of words well chosen.
☮.Siggi in Downeast Maine, USA
Oh dear, James! Took the world view on this one, and am scared to death to think of where we may all be headed.What we have done, what we haven't...so many reactions to this! Well wrote Master Wordweaver!
ReplyDeleteSomber piece, your expression here is very touching
ReplyDelete"reviving for abandoned deeds
the doppel-gangers of dead youths,
clothed with reproach and unfleshed"
wonderfully versed lines ~ Rose
Yes, all of life we are dying, right from the nursery. You have portrayed this so beautifully here James. It's interesting that right at the end of life people will speak about things that they havn't for years or return to the language of their childhood. It's as though a synopsis of one's life is taking place. You have framed this wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteunfleshed
ReplyDeletefigments of the mind’s high hopes of
futures fenced in a child’s green field
that now is hedged...
This is such an amazing take on the subject of growing old - I can't remember ever reading anything that said it better.
Just brilliantly delivered with skill and pointed practice.
ReplyDeleteA jarring, effective poem that really hits home.
red sputum on white handkerchief..what a word (sputum) what an image.
Fantastic James.
"the end begins" where we begin. a very thought provoking piece.
ReplyDeleteSuper write, tight lines, jarring images, internal rhyme, aliteration, well presented. The end begins, always, the end begins. Classic.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed it very much, though "enjoyed" is not quite the right word as it's missing the element of fear. intensely evocative. thanks.
ReplyDeletemasterymistery at
cosmic rapture