The Last Day

The earth had not been breathing

For an hour when I woke,

So the thought that I’d be leaving 

Any time, became a joke,

There was not that faintest rustle

That we think to call a breeze,

When the leaves all rub together with

The swaying of the trees,

And the water lay in stagnant pools

Across the dying ground,

Where there once had flowed a river but

Its stream could not be found.

There was silence where there once had been

The babble of a creek,

If the earth turned on its axis now

That day took half a week,

And where the tide had used to turn,

Advance upon the land,

Its waves had ceased to function

All it left was drying sand,

If that was not enough, its dearth

Reflected in the sky,

In clouds dark brown like bracken

That would crackle up on high.

These clouds of louring thunder merely

Muttered in their pain,

And sent the flash of lightning down

But dry, and without rain,

And nothing that was living stirred

Within my line of view,

Not even what I should have heard

And so, I turned to you.

For there across the counterpane

Your lustrous hair was spread,

And all my world became insane

To know that you were dead.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[minisla]

Excellent once again David great piece Been away for a while

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful tale described. The words could come true if we don't change our ways. I had to read twice. Thank you David for sharing your outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[No one]

This was sadly breathe-taking trip of lines. I loved it.

[TPK Stories]

What a sad and tragic tale. . .good story. . .

[James]

What a sad and mournful tale. It's a little different, but I liked it very much.

[Valentine]

One of your best writes and it seemed to reflect the life I have been living the past 3 years. This goes into my absolutely favorite pile. Kathie

[andrew mitchell]

a captivating write david expressed in true style!

[PhoenixDown]

Wow David,

if it was illegal to tug at someone's heart-chords so,
you'd be the country's most wanted. This is fantastic as it is dark.
An applauding "BRAVOOOOOOOO" sent straight your way, dear friend.

[BL]

Brilliant rhyming schrme and storytelling allows you to take your readers virtually anywhere, I always enjoy and admire the way you do things

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A poignant and emotional piece that reveals all that we hold closed , well done, good read