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BOOK ENDS

Each of us has a single birth
and we have but one death
while we spin here on this earth
all trying to catch our breath.

My life is like an old book shelf
sagging with often read tales
each one just about myself
the few triumphs, all of the fails.

Every single line of story
capped by those book ends of life
which contain but little glory
of a living all run rife.

In the end bookends don't matter
they are fixed and just sit there.
It's in between them, all that chatter
all things that we build and share
all the leaves of love and pratter.

Life is contained within there.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words: 
The last stanza is Very rough
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

I have been called a lot of things but stunning? lol. i appreciate your input and will consider it when I try to eliminate all the rough edges of this chicken scratching

author comment

just a couple of crits.

1] the last line of the first stanza.
I would switch the line around so that it says:
"all trying to catch our breath."

2] leafs should be [leaves]

This seems kind of profound and I think that the last line should just be separated.
Otherwise, I think that it's fine. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

write something profound? Musta been an accident. The leafs leaves thing...I'll need to check that out . I think leafs are for books and leaves are for trees. I'll also consider your other ideas. Thanks for dropping by

author comment

Leafs are what you do, when you leaf through a book: "He leafs through the pages of the book". Leaves are the plural of leafs;
"The leaves of the book were stuck together". Just saying'. And yes, you have written something profound. ~ Geez.
.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

you are correct. I'll get that taken care of

author comment

Hi, Stan,
Both retrospective and introspective poetry. Wonderful and relatable to those of us with a few years in the rear view mirror. Your last stanza to me is especially good - poetically and in wisdom. This poem for me is like a gentle heart-to-heart with one's personal life.
Thank you!
L

Yes I expect we older folks might relate to this better than the young people

author comment

I have read book recreationally all my life. And I thought comparing a book shelf with its book ends with life and its" book ends "of life and death might make for a good poem. I am pleased you enjoyed this scribble

author comment

all trying to catch our breath

OR THEIR breath
stan which

Let me check that line.............well as is it includes the protagonist and I think that works better. But keep suggestions coming. BTW how are you doing?

author comment

AT TIMES I WONDER

Why do I still wander
in the expanse of time
I live in a vast wilderness
as jess would say
since his ashes
they immerse in the ocean today
life took him a long very long way
he left me in a serious loss
swimming in the shallows

who knows whats next
why live longer than long
why not let life ebb away
what makes me so invaluable
that I must still stay

Never mind no one will miss me
a learner all my 80 so long days

thanks for the concern
but I will tell you to discern

as of now three docs say
keeping living till your last day

when will that be
who can so say

even heavens are in tears today
crying loud come right away
it rains no not in their eyes
but mine stan
as you know all these days
I do silently stay

that you say the last paragraph is rough...for I liked it best...

in the end bookends don't matter
they are fixed and just sit there.
It's in between them, all that chatter
all the things we build and share
all the leafs of love and pratter;
Life is contained between there.

*hugs, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

I consider it rough because it doesn't match other stanzas in length.

author comment

the few triumphs, all of the fails

Will do

author comment
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