| When Death comes, there is a smile on his lips. —Muhammad Iqbal |
Death’s embrace closes,
its kiss brushes my lips.
Strange the comfort it gives,
unexpected during hours of
running free, frolicking.
Not the enemy we supposed,
not the fate we wished to escape
though we always knew we couldn’t.
But the friend we always needed,
if never thought could be.
| Copyright © 2021 by Moristotle |
Note that I did not include the opening clause of Iqbal’s statement, which yields the intended referent of “his lips” to be those of a believer, which I am not. [“I tell you the sign of a believer; When Death comes, there is a smile on his lips,” link.]
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK1UO4AggUQ&feature=emb_logo
ReplyDeleteBach's music is the only argument I will ever accept for the existence of God.
Live link to Bach video.
DeleteStrange is that first moment, when one can understand how a person might be satisfied with not continuing to exist.
ReplyDeleteA sense of peaceful silence gave way to this poem. No talk, no bird song, no music – not even Bach. I was ready to go away with Death – no worries, no looking back, no expectations.
DeleteRoger, I just re-read your comment and was jarred to realize that you apparently didn’t connect ME with “a person [who] might be satisfied with not continuing to exist,” because, when I experienced that moment (several minutes, in fact) of “a sense of peaceful silence,” it was precisely me who felt that way..the most wonderful feeling of freedom and release....
DeleteOr were you being elliptical because you too have experienced that moment (or minutes), and know the “strangeness” firsthand?
I certainly meant to indicate you as feeling that way, as that is how I interpreted the poem. Somehow inspired to throw a curveball which includes us both, us ALL in fact. For as "one" first understands how ANYONE might feel that way, one must perforce include one's self in that equation. Most of us would say something like "Terms and Conditions Apply"; but under certain circumstances yeah, we'd jump. Dad was badly ill for 5 years before he died, and told me flat out if he'd known what it would be like he'd never have started treatment at all. I am pleased your moments of clarity neither involved traumatic circumstances nor resulted in your actual demise! YOU may be OK with you dying, but there are a lot us us who most certainly are not! Can I get an Amen, brothers and sisters?
ReplyDelete