Digging My Heals In!

Inspired again by a comment from Coyote John!

The older I get

the less I flirt

with death.

My demise

is now nearer

than the end of the tunnel

closer than the horizon,

no longer a distant star.

There it looms

from the shadows

trying to intimidate me,

trying to still my heart

and stop it dead.

But I have grown

all too canny

to allow fate

to seal that deal

with the devil.

I have a thick skin,

an impervious layer

of psychological armour

that lets me

ward off his kind,

as he lays in wait for souls.

 

07/09/20

Reviews

[Andrew Nelson Stewart]

The warrior definitely digging his heels in this one... While reading you get the idea of the persona this character has and contributes largely cause the readers can relate to the struggle of fighting, like that popular saying " what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." The lines " The older I get the less I flirt with death. My demise
is now nearer
than the end of the tunnel
closer than the horizon,
no longer a distant star." The acceaptance of the melancholy that Life always has it horrors at the end of things making goodbyes and faith challenged harder than before. The mention of age and less of flirting is now taking everything in silently while the world continues on and his faith getting stronger for whatever is to come. Carpe Diem as one would say :) Keep writing beautifully penned warrior . Sincerely your friend in writing and life

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Andrew for such a comprehensive review of this piece.

[Ookpik]

There is some admirable language here - 'psychological armor' being a standout image - and I thoroughly enjoyed the theme; it reads of death as the provocateur, and satan as the accomplice.

Clever idea, nicely done.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thank yous Ookpik.

[Paul Bell]

Time catches up with us all, but you would still like it to be on your terms.
2020 you just want it gone, though 2021 might not be the utopia we're hoping for.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

We shall see Paul. 2020 disappeared like fog and I am hoping our 'elders and betters' begin to understand that the tsunami from shutting the economy and life down will be far worse, more long lasting and more unsettling to society. many thanks for reading and commenting.

[Paul Bell]

This will take years to mend and many will never recover.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Agreed. I read what the reform Party (yes I know!) said about this and I so agree with them. It's maybe what we should have done from the start and would have cost 30-60 billion instead of 500billion!

[.]

Yes death is no longer a distant threat. With this covid situation we are living with it. Perhaps helplessness made us thick skinned....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah dear Dreamer I fear Covid is the least of our problems. One over massaged. Time will show that the tsunami from lockdown will be more damaging I fear. Many thanks.

[Lydia Shutter]

You better believe it, John....as we age, we realize we are not invincible. We know we can't take chances like we used to. I am wearing my mask, washing my hands, and staying home unless I need groceries or prescriptions. No restaurants for me. Yes, I am tired of cooking, but it is safer than going out and I am not tempting fate. Very well written....and relatable. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed Lydi. One has to do what one feels is best. I have written a couple of defiant pieces about covid-19 as I believe by shutting down the economy we are doing more longer term harm AND killing more people who did not need to die. Up to September here in the UK we had 10,000 excess deaths from non covid causes caused by the lockdown. The tsunami is coming next as taxes rise, unemployment and home repossession and isolation and depression hit hard. Anyway talking of such matters sitting awaiting news on your election over the pond! Many thanks for reading.

[Chris Shaw]

In these times we have more opportunity to flirt with death if we like to live dangerously. I am happy to remain shy and keep my distance. Well penned John.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so Chris, many thanks.

[John the Baptist]

I never did flirt with death. Feared the sucker might respond and ask for a kiss.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ha! Right attitude my man. Love the word play! Many thanks.

[Tania Mo]

Thick skin. No fear. I like the attitude here. Dont make it easy for death.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed we must Tania; and enjoy doing so too! Many thanks.

[AJNJ]

Its like a deer looking at a tiger in the eye. We know we're going to be eaten eventually so why not give it some attitude and ignore it brazenly. We only know living. And live we shall.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so AJNJ. Well said. You have taken the theme of the piece. Many thanks.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Anyone can drop dead at any time. I don't know how death looks or feels. Just as I don't remember any of my birth. These are human experiences beyond control. So I'll c**k a snook at the stranger and keep running till it catches up with me. This poem makes me even more determined to.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Great, join the band and we will tell Satan where he can go lol! Thanks for reading.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

My pleasure :)