Dead Before he Dies

He was immersed in the hum-drum of everyday life,

his Mondays bleeding into his Tuesdays, just as it had for fifty-five years.

 

Protected by his shining armor of ignorance,

he was untouchable.

 

What he didn't know, couldn't hurt him,

and what he did know, taught him that he didn't desire to know anymore.

 

He liked to sit behind his desk, and drink his coffee,

and read what he was told to read and type what he was told to type.

 

And every night, he would sit at the same bar,

quietly drinking his glass of Jack and Coke.

 

What he never noticed, however,

was that as his days bled, so did he.

 

And this is how a man died,

while his heart still beat to that familiar hum-drum.

Reviews

[J. Kell]

This is excellent work. Felt like it should be an indie film. I worked in an office for about five years and it was just like this lol. "And this is how a man died,
while his heart still beat to that familiar hum-drum." Love this...we should all be brave and stop living lives of quiet desperation.

[Heather Hassell]

Thank you so much. (: I've been playing with the idea of making this into a short story or screenplay, and I think you just convinced me to give it a go.

[J. Kell]

awesome!! it'll be great :))

[Heather Hassell]

ehhh, we'll see how it goes haha

[Rose Kavanagh]

Stunning poem! I have a peculiar love for portraits of "regular" or "non-extraordinary" people and this piece fit the bill perfectly. I especially like the line: "What he never noticed, however, / was that as his days bled, so did he." I think that is, quite frankly, genius. Fantastic work! :)

[The Verse: A Poetry Jou..]

Amazed at the level of your writing, clearly you have found your voice, please check your inbox, I would like to include your poem in the August issue of my poetry journal.

[Encantado]

Loved it. To the point. Very subtle...

[Aethereal]

This is a well stated ancient message. It reminds me of Shakespeare's quote:

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."

---- William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

[Melanie Genevieve]

So sad that so many people just follow that same routine wasting the amazing potential they have and letting the clock tick away.

"What he never noticed, however,
was that as his days bled, so did he.

And this is how a man died,
while his heart still beat to that familiar hum-drum."

I love the way this ends. You hit the idea right on the nail.

[Beccy]

Our time on this lovely planet is so short and yet so many waste their lives insuch a manner. Never see the beauty, feel no desire to embrace all there is to embrace. This a poignant and sharply observational poem, and as Jvonne says, you have a strong voice.


Beccy.

[Jvonne]

Love it! You say you write because you are still trying to find your voice. Well Heather you have have a strong voice here. Keep writing.

[Heather Hassell]

Thank you so much. :)