Lament

I can teach numerous lessons

that can plant so many seeds,

I can help them learn to spread their wings and fly;

 

I cannot tell them how to live

or make it all go well,

I cannot keep them from that last goodbye.

 

A baby’s born in England

while here a young man dies;

each day the Universe strikes parallels

 

For the mother who is mourning

for her own lost cherished prince,

grief is now the castle where she dwells.

 

Author's Note

Heard of the death of a former student yesterday. News that always hurts my heart...

Reviews

[ShelleyA]

Hi Rita. A lovely write. Heartfelt and introspective. Beautiful imagery and flow. Very good use of contrast. Nice rhyme. Lovely depth of feeling. Your teacher's heart mourns his loss poignantly. I can relate. My condolences to you and his family. Write on!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Shelley. I have been teaching for 23 years, and have unfortunately lost several students. Always sudden; always sad...

[ShelleyA]

You're welcome. Have a great day!

[SteveB]

Rita I hope you will take this in the spirit that it is meant but you do sad damn well.

First allow me to express my condolences on your loss.
Now to the piece. You are again using the rhyme scheme I saw for the first time from you earlier today and again you carry it off very well. The analogy in the last stanza is perfect. Another damn good write.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Steve. Poetry is a way for me to express the happy (as you see often) and the sad.
I am trying to work with different rhyme patterns, and I seem to be stuck in this one now...

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

That is really a powerfully touching poem...
I just have an issue with them making the birth of the royal baby headline news when there is more important things out there.
Sorry to hear about your former student.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Dale. The news all day had been about the Royal Baby - but in our community, this young man was much more significant.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

I disagree with them giving the royal couple so much coverage when there are many important stories going uncovered. As I told some there are kids being born homeless and into poverty and we here nothing bout them or never will.

[Aethereal]

Death doesn't care if one's prince or pauper. Your poem reminds me of John Donne's meditation, no 17, "For Whom The Bell Tolls". John Donne was one of the best of the best.

" ... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." John Donne (Emergent Occasions, no 17 published in 1624.)

Ernest Hemingway used this theme as well in his novel about the Spanish Civil War, "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you for these insights, Aethereal. You are right - Death does not discriminate...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is so sad, Rita...

beautifully done analogy...hurts just as much whether royalty or just a common person...we all matter somehow.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Jacob.

[The Nude Writer]

Wow.. It was a great poem, but knowing the story behind it, even more powerful.
Such true statements.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you. It's always such hard news to wrap my head around...

[The Nude Writer]

I get that

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. I felt the sadness in your voice of lamentation. A lot of wisdom too in this piece...Well penned and conveyed...:)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)