The End Of The Page

It fell into my head fully-formed, in about 47 minutes, the night after my Grandmother's funeral. It instructs us not be be sad, as the loved one is certainly joyous to have regained all that she lost during her life and illness.

 

THE END OF THE PAGE

When we get to the end of the page,

And the last word has been said

And all the thoughts of the Sage

Have been comprehended as read

 

Then we’ll all fold our glasses

And lay them on the bed…

 

We’ve been alone for years now,

Amid the clamoring crowd;

Badly tarnished, the Matriarch’s crown

(More so than is allowed!)

 

Our head, once so erect

Is now a trifle bowed…

 

The print seems so much smaller now

Than it ever was before,

And I believe I hear the Editor

Tapping softly at my door

 

“A moment only, dear One,

“For I’ve rather slowed with age.

“I’ll be with you in a minute,

“When I get to The End Of The Page.”

 

“Barbara, kindly close the blinds,

“For the sun is far too bright!”

(What a surprise when she shall find

That the SUN’s not the source of that light!)

 

But it truly wouldn’t matter,

For she’s far too tired to fight…

 

Great gulps of God’s good air

I again breathe in with glee!

The hummingbirds and martins fair

Zoom and sing to welcome me!

 

Breaths, and birds, and iris beds:

Joys such as I’d forgot could be!

 

Now I’ve come to the End Of The Page

Now it’s time to sign the Book.

The papers are folded, the bed is made;

Now I cast a last and a loving look.

 

Fin’ly unfettered and free’d am I,

I gladly bound from out my cage,

And fly to the arms of my dearest Dear,

For I’ve got to The End Of The Page!

 

December 6, 1986

 

 

 

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Oh Mark!
This is divine! How beautifully expressed is every word of one's end times on Earth! I absolutely love the use of life ending at "the end of the page". There are so many brilliant lines that I cannot single out one as a favorite........it is indeed all a favorite, and I shall flag it as such on my page.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful poetry. I must come back and read more, and I shall!!
I am so glad you have become a part of Writer's Cafe!!!
With Friendship,
Sheila

[Tate Morgan]

That was divine mark I like the story I like the idea behind it.For who could say with any thought we will be remembered

[bob, small b. aka invs]

This is extremely timely for me to read right now. A little more than a week ago, a woman who was as close to me as a mother passed away after having suffered the effects of alzheimers for about 7 years. She was an amazing lady and it's good to think of her now as being once more 'unfettered and free'd'. Thanks for directing me to this piece.

[Becky C Strukamp]

You have way with rhyming like no other. Brilliantly laid out and delivered.

[Lilly Negoi]

i've rarely seen such a splendid manner of describing death :). almost making me wish that mine will be the same when the time comes for my last page on this planet :)...i guess the reason why i'm so fond about your poem is the fact that i'm very much in love with books, and your comparison touched a string here :).

[Cherrie Palmer]

I loved this, words as these are healing for the writer and reader both

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

This is a very profound poem.
You have written so well on life and death ( glad you did not add taxes ) ha
Seriously, this makes me think, feel .. a poem of beauty.

Chloe

[David Lewis Paget]

A nice slant on the inevitability of the end of life. The end of the page.... Yes, pity we don't know exactly what page we're on, so we could make the appropriate arrangements. In youth, the idea of dying is rather a terrifying thought, but in age, after a weary lifetime of struggle, the end of things seems to us a natural, and not unwelcome event. The final adventure in fact...

[Stacey Watts]

This was very well written. I enjoyed the rhyme and the journey here. To come to the end of the page and feel free from the chains of life's sorrows and trials. This was a very thought provoking piece.

[Aimee Mahathy]

This poem is so great! I love how it begins kind of... it's not sad, I'm searching for the words... like that sad sort of relief. How the author is mildly depressed that the journey is over, but is overjoyed that he can rest now.
When I got to the part of the air, the birds, and the nature, it was like a crescendo in a grand symphony! The slow, moderate, and kind of dark nature of the beginning quickly became more hurried, more loud, more triumphant in comparison.
This is just beautiful~