On the Death of My Father

A poem I wrote after my father died in 2002.

In solemn procession

We joined the Traveler

When we found his feet

Were on the path to the River’s edge.

 

Out of the mists

the boatman loomed.

There was no sound

from the ominous oars,

Only the soft lapping of time…

the wash of the unavoidable

 

Standing in silent vigil

Around his last tracks in the sand

We watched and waited

As the Traveler and the boatman

disappeared without sound

Into the mists.

 

Then like a cleanup crew

At the end of a play,

We discarded the props

And picked up the pieces.

 

Reviews

[Gee]

Can imagine this played out in eerie silence,another talented writer to hopefully learn from.Enjoyed this very much Clyde

[Ed Hart]

you know how to do this very well, splendid and quiet

[Freder Fredersen (aka G..]

Wow. There's too much good to mention on this one. I could write a book on the metaphors here; both extended and quipped. I was moved. And I'm not easily moved. Great flow. Poignant message. And harsh reality abounds.

Cheers!
FF

[Clyde Grauke]

Thank you for this kind review. I had to zoom out to the level of this poem to be able to write about it at all.

[Markymark]

Claude,

I too have walked this path, and it is a sad one. God's promises live forever though. That's where faith turns to sight.....when we cross over dark Jordan. This is a sad piece, but lovely in form and structure and it flows fantastically.

Thanks for sharing.

Markymark

[Greg Skura]

This is Incredible!! straight to my readers list! i truly enjoyed this! when my father moved on the next level in the process of evolution, my two brothers and i each wrote a eulogy for the funeral, it was a very interesting experience! Thank You for this!

[Honeypot]

This was a beautiful tribute to your father. The final stanza made it fo me and struck me as very clever. I thought the whole poem flowed well

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Nice job, a lovely tribute for your father. Thank you for sharing. Debileah