Death

By hilary west

Sun, 05 Jul 2020
  • 2629 reads
12 comments
 

Christians say it's heaven or hell,

The knelling of the funeral bell.

Rational minds say it's nothing at all,

The man with the scythe's terrible call.

 

An ending it most certainly is,

A new beginning or the start of a quiz

To find out all our awful sins,

So judgement comes at court of Inns.

 

But in reality we fear to go,

The terrible unknown our only foe.

But surely one day we all must pay,

Though most people want to stay.

 

Life is precious that we know,

And beyond where waters flow

Is it Paradise when earth has a claim

Heaven and hell in my name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate 15
Poem
Flowers for the Dead : POEMS
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

perhaps no Charon, no river styx, just death and nothingness?

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Celticman,

Thanks for commenting. It is certainly a quandary. I can't help feeling the more you bother God, the more he will bother you !

Hilary      yes

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

I will follow my hope-for that is all it is, no proof- that where ever we came from - be it stardust or god's breath- that we return to that consciousness when we leave this three dimensional door.

This is a very well developed and intelligent poem, showing the riddle has no ' earthly' answer but we are constant in our desire to solve it.

Penny4athought

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi, Penny4a thought

Thanks for commenting. I believe we go back to where we came from, where ever that is, like you say, it is just a feeling.

Hilary     yes

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Coolhermit on

It's now some 48 years since I gave away all my possessions and stepped out to find 'god'  - and am still searching albeit I've had a life of quiet miracles, and sometimes hurt, since.

Curiously I am sketching a poem at the moment regarding loss of, and finding of, faith - regarding the 'afterlife' and its (possible non) existence, the truth is that nobody knows the answers.

I have not found any religion that reaches the inner parts and my guess is that after 'death' there is Nothing but that 'nothing' is a sublime wonder far beyond the power of language and human thought that will take an eternity of enternities to begin to fathom.

Meanwhile let's let the long time sun shine all around us and guide our way on. . 

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Coolhermit,

Many thanks for your interesting comments. At the moment I am becoming obsessed with death and finding it very disconcerting. It is easy to become morbid and moribund, when one ages, but like you I want to see the sunshine and hopefully let it guide my way.

Hilary   frown

 

Submitted by Coolhermit on

These (poetry and death) run hand in hand - I remember being at a folk club singaround - they kinda liked my style called me 'Peoples' Poet' and one evening I counted the fishermen song deaths on the song round (over 70) so when they asked me why everyone died in my poetry I had my ammo dry and ready. Ha ha.

Poetry should deal with finalities and there's little so final as death  :)  I suppose it's the best way to close a work. I've been ill lately (covid?) so dying was at my elbow for days - it has passed :)

Best wishes

Rick

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hilary, it puzzles me the convictions that there is no proof so we all are left to our desires and feelings. Actually those desires are presumably rooted in the fact that we were created to know God who made us with a knowledge of him and a sense of eternity and a Creator of all that's so amazing in nature (and could never be made by chance, even given billions of years).

However, God sent his Son into the world to show clearly what the truth is about death (and life), and whenever the accounts of his life (and death, and resurrection) are read carefully, there is no ambiguity there, and the way to eternal life is clearly shown. Many have determined to show that no resurrection really occurred or that Jesus wasn't what he claimed to be, but have been convinced in the end that there is no other explanation for the clearly recorded facts. Those disciples were changed by actually meeting the risen Jesus, from weak and frightened men to those who went to their death for what they knew to be true.

We don't need to grope in the mist, but read the clear accounts given us, and reach out and find the true God.This is what is rational.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Rhiannon,

Thanks for commenting. Given Christ died for our sins there is still an awful lot of suffering. I personally am in a terrible quandary !

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

He has said the suffering will be totally removed when he comes again, and remakes the creation, but that he is waiting at present to give time to people to repent and turn to him. If he took away all suffering immediately most would probably not bother to turn to him and repent and believe and receive eternal life for heaven. He does help in the present suffering, and is glad to be asked to help! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Hilary,

given that we all have our own personal beliefs, I think every individual will see death and the after life differently. The universe is so huge and many stars and planets are out there, living and dying just like us. Could it be that this life is just the beginning and like a caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly, we do the same? I don't really know the answer, but your poem brings up all kinds of questions as to the subject of death and what happens to us. I like to think we will never find the answer, because that's all part of the wonderful mystery of why we are here and who bought us to this moment in time.

An interesting poem indeed.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for commenting. As you say this poem brings up a lot of questions which only our own convictions can answer. As for me I don't know which side of the fence to land on !

Hilary    smiley