Whispered Mortality

Mortality courts me lately
whispering time is a game
played beautifully by children.

I am embroiled in a shadow war
riddled with bullets,
no bodies yet in sight.

Deeper into the dark cosmos
I slip across the continuum-
no longer a lifeline but a tightrope.

As precious blossoms of life
slowly peel away I am able to finally see
beauty in its simplest forms

and savor the moments for I understand
that sometimes big dreams
have the ability to swallow you whole.

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

I reviewed and then realized I liked it so much I forgot to mention that its is its without an apostrophe when it is possessive.

[icelandicblue]

Glad you liked it and thanks for the editing info...I am an abysmal editor.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, in the end there is only death. But somehow, you make it sound not so bad.:)

[TL Boehm]

humpfh. Not to you but to the thought of mortality. the great equalizer.

[icelandicblue]

When the dust settles sometimes we have time to appreciate the small things. Mortality is most certainly the great equalizer. This is a game where no one gets out alive...how ironic.

[Aethereal]

Yes, the best time is always the present time. I was inspired to write this tiny gift poem for you which you may keep as your own:

Sweet Moment

Tomorrow and tomorrow
I shall strut the stage of life,
and then I'll find some sorrow
that shall cut me like a knife,
but for now let me borrow
a sweet moment free from strife
with the power
of a flower,
and the rhythm of a fife.

[icelandicblue]

Lovely Aethereal, thank you so much.

[Aethereal]

You're welcome, but the first two lines were inspired by Shakespeare and the other lines by your poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i love this...
it is okay to have big dreams, but let's not forget how important the small stuff is also.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks jacob for your words.

[Gleb Zavlanov]

I love the message of this poem: life is a wonderful blessing, and mortality is an oppressive monster. A beautiful write.

[icelandicblue]

I appreciate your thoughts Gleb.

[Ruth]

This reminds me to take time to appreciate the small things and dreams in life...mortality is a tyrant to all and this really, really moved me, wonderful! x

[icelandicblue]

Yes I agree, thanks Poppy.

[Blue]

I love your poetry, Ice, and this poem is one of your best works (How many times have I told you this? Haha!) I wish I can tell you how beautiful this is. But for now, all I can say is "WOW!"

Anyway, David Scott called you "Blue" in his comment... Is that your real name?

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Blue- my screen name is icelandicblue some shorten it to ice, others to blue. ; )

[Blue]

Ahh... But your real name is...

[icelandicblue]

My real name is Anne

[Blue]

Nice to meet you, Anne. :)

[Deuces]

I really enjoy your work. It is raw with reality, but so eloquently/beautifully written with such imagery. You had me with "Mortality courts me daily" and the use of personification. Loved this for its truth, revealing that with age, comes appreciation for the simpler things and how big dreams can be actually be an obstacle in the end. Awesome piece.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much G. I really appreciate your thoughts and your synopsis of the poem. As you get older you do see the world from a different angle.

[kublakhan27]

Again you have blown me away with the intensity of your emotions and observations on the route of introspection that we all must take. No longer a lifeline but a tightrope...when I reverted back to your first line, this one took on earth-shattering significance, not that it wasn't already significant before. Every word of this piece carries significance with it. The older I get, the more mortal I feel, and I'm relieved to know that someone out there feels the same, especially when it's a poet of your pedigree :)

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for seeing exactly what I was trying to say. Somewhere in the back of our minds we reject or ignore but at some point we see that mortality in the mirror smiling back at us. Thank you for always being so very kind to me.