O' Death Tiptoe Softly Into My Presence

Inspired by Anne Bolyn's "O' Death Rock Me Asleep"

Author's Note

O’ Death Tiptoe Softly Into My Presence

O’ Death tiptoe softly into my presence with a step of compassion.
If I be asleep, bid me join you with a measure of understanding.
Be mindful of my quivering heart as you beckon me to cross over
And dwell with those who are embraced forevermore in eternal peace.

Sing to me a lullaby of blessed assurance that comes now my time
To depart from the land of the living to join those who’ve gone before me.
Appease my troubled spirit; stroke my furrowed brow as you reach for my hand
And show me The Book of Life that reveals ‘tis now time to leave the living.

Tears of angst fall upon my breast as I must depart from pleasures present,
Yet I find comfort in that all is well with my soul of deeds I leave behind.
Drape your shroud upon my weary shoulders so I shiver not from regret,
But rejoice that I am now released from the cold prison of my body.

The dire burden of the living shall no longer cause my gait to stumble,
As worries of past days shall find revival in the sunrise of each dawn.
I hear sounds of joy descending from The Heavens as you now claim my soul.
Calmed I am as you tiptoe softly into my presence. I am at peace!

Sheila Bowyer Kline

Inspired by:
“O’ Death Rock Me Asleep” by Anne Boleyn as she awaited her execution in May of 1536
O Death Rock Me Asleep -a poem by Anne Boleyn

Death, rock me asleep,
Bring me to quiet rest,
Let pass my weary guiltless ghost
Out of my careful breast.
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.

My pains who can express?
Alas, they are so strong;
My dolour will not suffer strength
My life for to prolong.
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.

Alone in prison strong
I wait my destiny.
Woe worth this cruel hap that I
Should taste this misery!
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.

Farewell, my pleasures past,
Welcome, my present pain!
I feel my torments so increase
That life cannot remain.
Cease now, thou passing bell;
Rung is my doleful knell;
For the sound my death doth tell.
Death doth draw nigh;

There is no remedy.

Reviews

[Nolo Segundo]

I just re-read your poem 'Go Gently..' which my friend Rick informed me is mostly your creation-- I liked it very much, and this one is even greater in my estimation. As I told our mutual friend, I was an agnostic till I had an NDE at 24 while drowning in a Vermont river. One day I believed life had no intrinsic meaning: the next I knew 'meaning' was myriad, and EVERYTHING matters for we are endless beings trapped for a brief time in perishable vessels. And thanks for Anne's poem: how sad her husband murdered such an intelligent, sensitive woman. The poem seems telling in that there's no reference at all to either divinity or her soul....

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you Nolo; I am intrigued by the thoughts that she had while awaiting her execution! Yes, life is brief, eternity is what we live for!

[Louis McKraker]

Good morning Sheila.
A fine poem you've written here. And I haven't read Anne Boleyn since college. Thanks for that too. I'd almost forgotten her.
I like, not only you great understanding of rhyme and meter, but I also love how you embrace death, not as an enemy but as inevitability. This understanding seems to draw from your faith, which seems very strong, as well. Death is not death, but a curtain drawn upon another life. In that respect, it's rite of tragedy. And you wrote it so elegantly here.
I'm somewhat snowed-in today, where I live and I intend to indulge in more of your work today.

Thank you for sharing your vision. And keep writing to greatness.

-louis

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you Louis for your complimentary remarks, enough to encourage me to pick up my pen and write again after a respite from sharing my words with others.
I do so often write of death, as you shall observe with my past posts, but it is a subject that intrigues me. Yes, my faith is strong and I know that death is but a passing to another realm. There are times when the morbidity of it catches my fancy and I write of pain, remorse, the Grim Reaper, that sort of thing and then are those days when victory shall clearly overcome the old master of demise.
I hope you enjoy continuing with my writes. I too shall take the time to read more of your work, your labors of love! There's just so much to tell, is there not?

[APOORVA]

what a classy write.
you're sure blessed

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you! I am humbled by your kind remarks!

[Renée]

Sheila,
I can't imagine her anguish not only facing an unfair death..but leaving her daughter in the care of a father like that.. you captured the moment and the period well. Nicely Done !

[Sheila Kline]

Yes, my friend it was such a sad ending! Thank you for your kind remarks!

[Shabeeh Haider]

Sheila, this is one amazing write. This acceptance of death in such an easy manner speaks volumes of the type of a person you are. Saints and people close to the Lord embrace death happily and with a smile.
For others it is something to dread.
Wonderful to read and very well written.

*shabeeh*

[Sheila Kline]

There are many who fear death, but rather than fear it, I write often of it and have come to a state of peace in knowing that what is beyond the door of death is more wonderful than I can fathom with my view of life while in this world. There is not one to "escape" it. Thank you for your kind words!

[Great Aunt Astri]

Beautiful poem. A lovely contrast to 'rage, rage against the dying of the light' (Dylan Thomas) It must be lovely to have your faith. I too think that death is not the end.

[Sheila Kline]

Death is but the beginning for me as all things die. We are dying from the moment we are born though we prefer not to look it as such. Too much living to do then, and our desire for immortality perhaps becomes the driving force to continue on...... Thank you for your kind remarks!

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this poem dear friend.
"I hear sounds of joy descending from The Heavens as you now claim my soul.
Calmed I am as you tiptoe softly into my presence. I am at peace!"
I liked the journey leading to the hopeful ending. Life teaches us many lessons. Life and death is part of the journey. Not to be feared. Thank you Sheila for sharing your amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Sheila Kline]

Thanks John.........no we must not fear it! It is what life leads us to!

[Coyote Poetry]

Always a pleasure to read your work and you are welcome dear Sheila.

[Bare trees]

I agree with Jacob on the similarities to the poems he mentioned. Your style here is a combination of faith and a search for assurance that all things left behind will not compare to what awaits. A wonderful poem Sheila.

R.

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you R.! Yes, what is to come after death shall most assuredly be more wonderful than we can ever imagine! I have faith in that to be absolutely true!!

[Tom]

Death is the only certainty in life so to pass away peacefully in ones sleep after a long and fulfilling life, must be the hopeful wish of all folk when inevitably that time comes !

A very composed and thoughtful write on the final drawing of the curtain as the light fades, yet there is great comfort and solace to be gleaned from these stoic and compassionate words !

Splendid as always Sheila, and let's hope we're all granted many more years of life to savour and enjoy your fine poetry and God's blessing to you !!

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you for your kind words my friend. Many suffer so intensely while waiting for relief from their pain, while others seem to be taken in the blink of an eye. We do not know why one may go quickly, and the other does not but it is the faith that what comes after passing that should give us comfort in the joyous homecoming that is eternal! I was extremely touched by the words of Anne Boleyn that inspired this write. Poor Dear Queen waiting for her death, but with an apparent faith that helped her meet it with dignity.

[DIVYA]

Astounding beauty in every line and verse. I have a death fear and felt a slight shiver run down my spine reading this unique poem. Yet if ever mortal men had to face death with nobility and courage, these would be the matchless lines to face it with!

[Sheila Kline]

Thank you my friend! Death is a topic that I often write of - not sure if I am afraid of it, or fascinated with it. It happens to each of us, yet living is so wonderful I shudder to think of when I pass to the other side. It is faith that allows me to think of that time!