User Poetry

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by cromag

And pie!

[kennyc]

Death Be Not Proud


Death be not proud
for you have not bested me

I’ve looked into your eyes
and watched you slink away

we both know one day
you will win

but for today
it is I


Kenny A. Chaffin – 7/15/2012

[Dr. Drib]

I just read your poem and recalled the memoir by John Gunter, in which he writes lovingly about his son who died of a brain tumor, and with the son's full knowledge that death would eventually claim his life.

This is where I first encountered the famous poem, "Death Be Not Proud,"by John Donne.



Don

[kennyc]

Thanks Don! I just today read a poem in the latest Best American Poetry 2012 by Steve Orlen titled "Where Do We Go After We Die" which was written by him, knowing he only had a short time to live.

Oh and as far as the title, I knew it seemed familiar when I wrote it, but did not put it together with the John Donne poem until much later....I'm considering retitling it...may or may not....

[Dr. Drib]

I would suggest that if your title captures the essence of what you're saying, then it needn't be changed. Of course, that's your decision...


"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

-- Dylan Thomas





Don

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Death Be Not Proud ... Kenny A. Chaffin – 7/15/2012

Nice one, Kenny.

I don't know what kind of a mood I was in when I wrote this a quarter of a century ago, but I present it without comment. It's a song, really. One that I'm rather pleased with the piano part. I'll have to record it someday.

Life, Be Not Proud / W.T. Sharpe, 1987

Life, be not proud.
One waking moment, then we sleep
And life shall be no more Life, thou shalt go down to the deep.

Jesus is dead.
I wish you'd get this through your head.
If he could be here right now, He'd agree with what I've said.

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see -
But then, where would you be?
You'd be like me.

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see -
But then, where would you be?

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see Death, Thou art King,
And of Thy praises I will sing.
Other gods come and go, But you forever rule all things.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

-- Dylan Thomas

I believe one of our members uses that in his signature.

[frahse]

I think that legally titles can't be copyrighted, but as a practical matter, it makes sense to separate out our works from others.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Nice one, Kenny.

I don't know what kind of a mood I was in when I wrote this a quarter of a century ago, but I present it without comment. It's a song, really. One that I'm rather pleased with the piano part. I'll have to record it someday.

Life, Be Not Proud / W.T. Sharpe, 1987

Life, be not proud.
One waking moment, then we sleep
And life shall be no more Life, thou shalt go down to the deep.

Jesus is dead.
I wish you'd get this through your head.
If he could be here right now, He'd agree with what I've said.

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see -
But then, where would you be?
You'd be like me.

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see -
But then, where would you be?

Oh, how I wish that I could make you see Death, Thou art King,
And of Thy praises I will sing.
Other gods come and go, But you forever rule all things.

[kennyc]

Protoplanet Seeks Stable Orbital Arrangement


It’s a pinball game out here
multiple balls in play

I can’t take it anymore
I need some quiet, some space
some snuggle time in
a single stable relationship

How long must I wait?


Kenny A. Chaffin – 11/22/2012

[kennyc]

New Town


Parents
left alone

Presents
left unopened

Birthdays
uncelebrated

Weddings that
will never be

The town, everything
is different now


Kenny A. Chaffin – 12/15/12


(I know it's too early for this, but I had to try)

[kennyc]

Calendar


My cat doesn’t care
it’s the last day
of the year

She just wants
her food
wants outside

Time is subjective
Mayans irrelevant
Sunshine and a nap


Kenny A. Chaffin – 12/31/12

[kennyc]

and...(poems seem to be popping out today, muse is manic)



We are all Venusians

Maybe we’ll terraform Mars
because that’s what they did
when they destroyed
their planet
and vowed that life
would go on.


Kenny A. Chaffin – 12/31/12

[kennyc]

We Get Bigger


As we get older
our bellies grow

as do our memories
of things we did

of things we were
that we’ll never be again


Kenny A. Chaffin – 1/6/13

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by kennyc

We Get Bigger


As we get older
our bellies grow

as do our memories
of things we did

of things we were
that we’ll never be again


Kenny A. Chaffin – 1/6/13

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Thanks Geoff, considering whether I need "more" here or not...