After I'm Gone

After I’m Gone

photography by / Mecuro B. Cotto

 

what’s to become of them

after i’m gone,

this cache  of poetry

with pages formatted and leather bound

that are the very breath of me

the breadth of who i am.

 

for all that i am

in the realm of this existence

lies here

upon these embossed pages

titled, versed and dated

through the vestige of time.

 

what’s to become of them

after  i’m gone,

when my voice is silenced

by the abyss of death

in the wake of seasons

that have nurtured me well.

 

after all that i am

returns to dust,

lamenting in the benediction

of a prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is beautiful, Kelly, questions that I have often thought of myself. All of my poems are handwritten in leather books, signed, dated, and timed. I have no children and no family to bequeath them to. I imagine after I'm gone, they will be tossed into a trash bin somewhere, never read and never known. My only way to let them breathe is in the here and now, here in this forum, shared with the ether.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I feel for your situation, Linda. Having no family to bequeath your extraordinary work to. It is only the here and now that we worry of things like this. After we pass, there will be no earthly chores to ponder...we will be free of such trivial things. I'm beginning to think it may all be left to a dear friend of mine. Time will tell, I suppose. Thank you so much for this lovely review!

[Julian]

Like the sand mandalas of the Tibetan monks, or the sand drawing of the Dine ( Navajo) so many incredible works are here for a time and then gone with no trace, except the memory of those who were blessed to experience them in their appointed time.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

“for all that i am
in the realm of this existence
lies here
upon these embossed pages
titled, versed and dated”
Dearest Kelly, this is a lovely and contemplative write… confronting our own mortality shakes us to the core. Elegant language, flow, imagery, truths spoken throughout. Writing is transient. Writing is eternal. We leave our mark and bid our poem-children to go forth in ways that we, ourselves, cannot. Once written and read, the fact that we wrote at all, gives them wings. Your amazing work lives forever in the hearts of those who read it. Xo

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your heart overwhelms me. Thank you most kindly, Annette! Much love my friend!

[John the Baptist]

Perhaps the most important thing is not what will happen to the poems, but that you wrote them in the first place. Relatively few even try to write poetry, so the doing of it is something in which to take satisfaction. Besides, no one, even the most powerful, can be sure of how, or if, their works will be remembered. Shelley's "Ozymandias" illustrates this point sharply.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I'll look that up, John. Thank you!

[DIVYA]

Such a beautiful and thought provoking poem....I feel your words have already been immortalized by that part of the Universe that takes cognizance of beautiful poetry and imprints them forever in its golden realms. There they shall stay, giving seasons their hues and sunrise and sunsets their glow. Inspiring future, yet unborn poets unbeknownst, till eternity, in a myriad different ways. Because I have faith that nothing beautiful in spirit and art ever fades.

[Kelly Scheppers]

",,,and there they shall stay, giving seasons their hues and sunrise and sunsets their glow." I could wrap myself up in your words and be perfectly content, forever. A thousand thank you's shall never be enough.

[DIVYA]

Just knowing you're happy and joyful is enough reward. You're most welcome, dear friend and beautiful posters, Kelly. ❤⚘

[Betty Hermelee]

A thought that is important for all poets and writers who think of what's to become of their precious books of poetry when they pass on....hopefully it will pass to one's children or to a dear friend....we just hope that it doesn't lay foul and that no one will read it or keep it for memories. I like the repetition, it makes the poem strong and viable.
Nice!
Best, B

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you most kindly, Betty!

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Kelly
Best, B

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved the poetry dear Kelly.
"after all that i am
returns to dust,
lamenting in the benediction
of a prayer."
I liked the above lines and I believe. If we read the ancient writers. We bring them back to life again. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Kelly Scheppers]

I love your take on this, John. So true! Thank you!

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Kelly.

[1809 Black Plague Decem..]

Hellos, Dear, Kelly Scheppers,
It is mere dishearten, by the edge of your pen,
truth is a pen might run out of ink,
but not the writ, not the mind, not the soul,

[Kelly Scheppers]

A most profound thought you leave me with. Thank you!

[red93]

Fabulous Work Kelly, so soulful and thoughtful, excellent. You need to publish a Book Kelly definitely - then it will all be kept for posterity ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Kelly Scheppers]

You are most kind, Tony. Thank you!

[Ken Simm.]

The simple answer is that people will remember you by them. That is inevitably what will happen

[Kelly Scheppers]

You are generous and kind, Ken. Thank you!

[FGFRANKLIN]

I understand this feeling. As for myself, eh, I'll be beyond caring. I imagine my oeuvre will be scraps in a garbage heap when I am dirt in the earth. I'm okay with that. Nothing lasts forever except love. So I just try to share as much of that as I can while I'm here. I have grandchildren I've never met. But we can't have everything in life no matter how much it means to us.

[Kelly Scheppers]

A life lived. Proof we were here. It's all we can hope for. Thank you, Fabian!

[FGFRANKLIN]

I doubt anyone will care after long. Look at all the untended graves in the cemetery. Or maybe someone will champion our writing like T.S. Eliot did for John Donne and bring our memory a longer recognition.

[Dara]

Kelly, your poem is right up there with the classics (ie: Emily Dickinson, Keats etc) I see your poems as part of your legacy. Having published them here they are forever floating in cyberspace to be read and shared by all who visit. Maybe you should consider putting them into book form, if you haven’t already done so. I would gladly buy one!

[Kelly Scheppers]

My poetry is like a child to me, so the thought of leaving them behind gives me cause to reflect. I've quite enjoyed reading everyone's perspective. Thank you, Dara!