I want my poetry to...

I want my poetry to prepare you for death

Not for the grave

Nor the cemetery

But death

The end of all words

The end of all light

When you can sigh

And close your eyes in peace

Rested, relaxed

Sated

Satisfied that everyday

You healed yourself

From the trials of the day before

 

I want my poetry to prepare you for death

At the end of the conversation

Where thoughts meet pain

And pain meets joy

And joy is God

And God is good

Love conquers all, even the grave

I lower your body

Into the ground

And take your song

Into my soul four nourishment

Mind, spirit, breath and light

 

I want my poetry to prepare you for death

Starting this day

Let’s not make a plan

To edify and rectify

Those that require one or both

Feed bellies and lay hands on brows

With a cooling touch

Set off fireworks in the streets

Just for pleasure of the blind

Let’s do it

 

I want my poetry to prepare you for death

With words read

And colors painted

Threads running crookedly through a quilt

Linking, touching

The rough and smooth

Of moonlight

Broken glass prism-ed

Into beautiful satin

Music

Imagined in mentally challenged minds

 

I want my poetry to prepare you for death

The race run

And well set in clay

Steps to follow

A good example of a life fully lived

Under grace

Sometimes in sand

At the edge

Of tomorrow

But always looking

East

Prepared to follow the Son

 

© NP 8/13/2012