Rhapsody in Gray

A poem about the inevitability of death.

This forced path before me, with its stinging mist, beyond I cannot see,

minute shards of glass, tortuously bloody, tearing away at me.

Shall I take this route or leave for safe place, even temporarily?

              bleeding be, bleeding flee

 

This mired path before me, lays wet in heavy mud, sorrow bound,

I wade, as skeletal desiccated hands grab for me, blackened brown.

Shall I take this route or fall to my knees to crawl on this wicked ground?

               scratching sound, scratching bound

 

This pained path before me, offers no choices, only one way to go,

agonizing riotous discord streams down my back, predictive flow.

Shall I take this route or burrow myself where I stand, unsure below?

               freeing bestow, freeing ago

 

This sad path before me, 'tis heartless in its dismal presentation,

while it seeks to reek, tugging and tearing, furious resignation.

Shall I take this route or return to long lost lands of my creation?

               moving cessation, moving citation

This heavy path before me is weighted in moves of iron and stone,

threatens harsh matter upon me, my own self loathing making me slow.

Shall I take this route or leap to the sky in a stunning feat, yet alone?

flying woe, flying slow

 

This deranged path before me winds wrongly to a deadly darkened door,

'tis where I'm drawn to pound, begging I be given this life, a bit more.

Shall I take this route or stand my ground as I'm ripped bare, done waiting for?

               holding deplore, holding implore

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

In truth, matters not what I choose, for ordained outcomes I can't enthrall,

the "master of less," owner of the black and white, endless winter befalls.

'Tis Rhapsody in Gray, dire cast, where hope just means farther to fall.

               weeping low, weeping flow

 

Author's Note

Some context: I have a serious disease and find that writing about it helps when I start to feel afraid. I try to balance this with other topics, to avoid fixation, but gain incredible relief in just letting go of my emotions as it relates to my disease when I start to feel overwhelmed. This poem is the result of this process.

Reviews

[Leigh]

You have structured and laid this poem out like the path you describe and in that I get the feeling of depth you are so powerfully conveying. Very strong and moving poem

[Patrick]

and so you should and so you did.
So taken back my this piece I didn't breath for the duration. I will enjoy reading more....thoughts with you.