the hands of chilling grief extend
your forever knocks at the door
losing you I can’t comprehend
I’m drowning in my bitter tears
I am consumed by my worst fears
my soul is broken evermore
as my life’s meaning disappears
barter and pleading stain my lips
slip through my clutching fingertips
scatter useless across the floor
as far beyond your frail life slips
I’m shattered to my very core
it is for mercy I implore
let me delay that open door
to kiss your tender lips once more
I wanted there to be believable grief and sorrow, and bargaining – everything that would be a normal part of a deep love relationship when one of the partners departs this earth. At the same time, in the midst of grief, I wanted tenderness. He is distraught, but madly in love still – as he has been for years. This not an easy good bye. I chose the image of the dying rose, because even in its death it holds firmly to that which made it beautiful in life. Just as he tries to hold on to what was beautiful in their relationship. Bitter-sweet!
This poem is 8 syllables per line, exnctly the same as Robert Frost’s “Stopping By A Woods On A Snowy Evening”. The rhyme pattern to my piece here is: AABA CCBC DDBD BBBB
Click here to read my “light filled” rubaiyat
Click here to read a variation of this rubaiyat
