The Final battle

He had beat it twice before

But even he knew this time

The battle was over

The visit to the hospital just confirmed it

Six months

Just in time for his forty third birthday

He never measured life in years

But he had packed a lot in

The scars on his body reminded him most days

He had also inflicted scars on others

He walked up to the beach head

His favourite spot growing up

It always felt like home

Hearing his mother telling him

Never go close to the edge

It’s a hundred foot drop to the beach

He laughed to himself

He lived on the edge

The tide was coming in

Soon the sea would crash against the rocks

That great insurmountable force of nature

Never changing, never asking why

Forty two was a good age

The sea was crashing against the rocks

It was a good age.

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Such a tragic and folorn picture set down before us Paul. A nicely set piece with the right balence of emotions as to take the reader to the sad but inevitable conclusion that leaves such mixed emotions.

[Paul Bell]

Sad ending, but in a happy place.

[kentuck14]

I can remember when I thought 42 was an old person . . . actually my forties were a good age . . . still had the strength of youth without the dumbity. Then again middle-aged men can think and do some pretty dumb things!!
Paul, this is a sober poem . . . a hard reality some face . . . "The sea was crashing against the rocks." a great way to express his turmoil. I believe you leave the end of this person to one's imagination . . . to me, a good way to end the poem.
Tom

[Paul Bell]

Yeah, the reader can make there own judgement. I like to think you can be dumb at any age.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me of how in youth I had this premonition of living until I was 42...yes, i surpassed that, but one of my idols growing up was and still is Elvis Presley...and he died at that exact age.
Has made me wonder if i wasn't thinking of him them, rather than myself.
This is really moving...it will hurt those left behind either way, but the speaker just has had enough suffering...and wants to be in control of the finale...
j.

[Paul Bell]

Yeah he went out on his own terms. Srangely enough, it was only a few years I found out Elvis was a twin.

[Einstein Noodle]

well done Paul!!! hooked and held me and played me like a lover ;) wow! closing so cold but wrapped around me like a warm blanket as i plunged to the sea ...oh my ...well done says i!
E.

[Paul Bell]

The sea never asks questions, good way to go.

[Einstein Noodle]

no...i guess it doesn't ... never thought of it in such a way ... never asks ... welcomes anyone and everything .......and does what it will