Death is Stalking...

I had a friend when I was four

We played upon his rocking horse,

His father said: ‘Be kind to him,’

And so I was, so gentle then.

He had bright red and rosy cheeks

And eyes that sparkled, only weeks

Before his father said: ‘He’s ill!

Come back again when he is well.’

But then I found, his father lied -

For shortly then, his son had died.

 

I had no concept then, of death,

That he was gone just took my breath,

I only saw his father’s pain,

His only child, a coffin came,

So small, and carried out with flowers

His mother wept, it seemed for hours

And silence settled on that place,

The rocking horse stood still, in grace,

While thoughts of darkness would impinge

That Death was stalking, at the fringe.

 

The mother died of cancer then,

A broken heart had brought it on,

The father stood out in the street

To watch us play, but most discreet,

He missed his son, his little pal

So took me walks by the canal,

We rambled through the countryside

And every now and then, he cried,

But turned his back, his private hell,

For Death was stalking him, as well.

 

Then I got sick and nearly died

Some thing went wrong with me, inside,

They put me in the old men’s ward

And prayed a lot, and mentioned ‘lord’,

I came back slowly from the brink

And then got out of bed, I think,

To feed an old man with a spoon

Whose eyes were dim that afternoon.

For years I thought I’d helped, they lied,

The day I left, the old man died.

 

I’ve seen so many come and go

In life, that one great picture show,

When sickness strikes from out the blue

Good people, as alive as you,

From cars they wrap round stobie poles,

From war, filled full of bullet holes,

One day they’re here, and then they’re gone,

The eyes are closed that once had shone

While I sit quiet here, and cringe

For Death is stalking, at the fringe!

 

David Lewis Paget

Author's Note

In memory of Roger Neilson, hole-in-the-heart baby, died aged 5 in 1949.

Reviews

[cynthiabuhainbaello]

Gripping tale and very touching story perfect as always with your signature meter and rhyme. I like this because there is something personal in it, a part of you and your childhood, and how you view Death and the emotions it brought out from you, as a child and as a man. Fantastic substance, form, message, and impact. You are an amazing writer David.

[TPK Stories]

A sad but touching story! So sad when death comes! But I guess we learn to get by with time.

[minisla]

So true David and sad to think how brief life can be.

[BlueDreams]

Thank you sharing your memories with us sir .. :)

[Frank De Layna]

I just learning poetry by the book, but I really enjoyed your poem. The rhyming was amazing. My barometer for good works is if I would buy it! And I would buy that poetry. I'm new from Fanstory.com I feel that website wants money from its members to make them look great. I hope to read more of your works and others. I a "recovering" writer. I've written of and on, all my life. And I got a little traumatized by the last writer's website.

[Saumya]

THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS HAS DEEEEEEEEEEPLY TOUCHED MY HEART!!!!!!! AND FILLEDMY EYES WITH PAIN...!!!! I CAN SEE YOUR INTENSE PAIN OF LOSING YOUR FRIEND AND HIS LOVELY FAMILY!!! ....allll i can say is "may there souls rt in devine peace"!!!!! and GOD almighty give you the strength to dwell in everyones heart as today!!!!
keeeeeep writing and rocking!!!!
with best wishes,
saumya

[Tarry Franck]

A wonderful tribute to a dear friend of yours. Thank you for sharing something so personal.

[TL Boehm]

Today my heart is heavy....it is the 4th anniversary of my Dad's death. Although we saw it coming - emphysema - I'm still sad today. This poem is thick with ache - and the reminder of our own mortality. I agree - it is the loss of children that hits the hardest

[Becky C Strukamp]

What a sad write and how tragic that this one is true. Your style is ever so bright even when day light turns day into night.

[Marie]

Death is always hovering in the blackground. I almost had a best friend once. I've lost so many important peopele in my life that I keep a tight fence around my feelings.