Death Gets Jealous

I had a friend, once
We sat in the same class
He was smart, he was strong 
A Leader of Men
His future was bright before him
Then Death got jealous
And snuffed his life out.

I had a grandmother ,once-
We'd go see her every few months
She was wise, yet her eye still twinkled
With a mischievous joke...
She loved with all her heart 
Then Death got Jealous
And snatched her in his jaws.

I heard of a young couple, once
Or did I read it in the paper?
They were so in love
And they'd been married just a year
They were happy, and she was pregnant...
Then Death got jealous 
And crushed them in the chassis...

Maybe you're not supposed to live
Too well, lest he should notice you
Maybe you're not supposed to laugh 
Too loud, lest he should hear you...
Maybe you're not supposed to love
Too hard, lest he gets jealous...
Then maybe, just maybe, he'll leave you be...

I swear that I'll live my life
As best, and as fully as I can 
I swear that I will laugh
As loud and as long as I can
I swear that I will love
As hard and as much as I can
Till Death gets jealous...

Reviews

[Dinesh Sairam]

This is the best of your poems I've read until now. It holds the long, old poetic tradition of personifying death. The last two stanzas are made of perfect sense. Infact, this poem reminded me of Emily Dickinson:

Come slowly, Eden!
lips unused to thee,
Bashful, sip thy jasmines,
As the fainting bee,

Reaching late his flower,
Round her chamber hums,
Counts his nectars --enters,
And is lost in balms!

Keep writing.

PS. And since I've read your works, I take it that you're a free-verse poet. I'm not opposed by that, but will just invite you over to become a formalist.

[Ashley]

Such beauty, meaning and understanding in this. Wow.. I'm speechless..

[M.Babu]

Fancy words, and pretense aside...this poem rocks. HARD

[Papercuts.Hate.You.Too]

I like the way death is decribed here
As a selfish thing
I love the point to it too
I'll live as best as I can
And when death gets jealous
I'll just have to go
-AnnabellAccident

[Adelia Alighieri]

What I like the most about this is the way I saw deep into everyone involved in the poem. You've given an astounding description.

Keep writing.

[bluessadmood]

that was really nice..i always said it
you should not live your life fully,dont exagerate..play it under cover
she is like always on watch,she hates too many smiles,laughs she just could not stand
if you have to, dont send a strong sound lest she hears you,so wicked i ve always known her to be
jealous or not she just cant stand perfection ,beauty ,freedom and happiness
the glass should always be half full..and you should not enjoy everything or anything
really its like a game..you should know the rules so she cant harm you a lot..
lovely write..

[abhas]

this is good... the concept of death has been defined in many forms .. and is hugely a subject one's whims... depends on how he is affected by it... but death is inevitable and we all live in its effects in day-to-day life... this poem greatly magnifies the feeling of uncertainty associated with something very certain .. death
.... the words are powerful and i liked the way the words were said..

[HoorayForUnderdog]

I think your analysis is dead on. (pun intended, mostly) Your poem has an important message about life and is well written. If I could make an editing suggestion, it would be to consider emphasizing the "Too well" "Too loud" and "Too hard" in the next to last stanza by attaching them to the line immediately above them. For example:

Maybe you're not supposed to live...too well
lest he should notice you
Maybe you're not supposed to laugh...too loud
lest he should hear you

Actually this also tends to emphasize the warning of what might happen as well.
Anyway, just a suggestion. Great poem!

[Coyote Poetry]

I like this poem. Remind me of my Native American stories. Death is always waiting on your left shoulder. If you could look fast enough. You would see him waiting. I agree with your ending. Hard to escape death. Best to celebrate life while we can. I like the words."Till Death gets jealous..." A outstanding poem. Thank you.
Coyote

[Hello, Goodbye]

great expressions, its makes for a great read that is very anecdotal but with deep personal feeling