the world’s end
wasn’t when the light of a faraway malevolent star
shot forth to touch earth
like a seething spear,
but rather in the days before,
when we knew there was no solution
to what would come.
no bodies had been instantly incinerated,
but already hearts had turned to ash.
no one went to work any longer
kids could eat candy whenever they liked,
everyone stayed awake till all hours.
there was abandon,
but no one felt joy.
except perhaps those whose worlds had already ended
even before the news of this oncoming calamity,
he who holds out a hand
to a loved one in the ground,
asking to be taken away as well
or gamblers who’ve lost everything
-- which is what we realized we all were now
as we moved like fireburnt stalks
in the stillness or the wind,
wondering unspeakingly which
we’d last feel on our skin.
_________________________________________________
This poem was written in response to JD Smith's Iron Poet Challenge Open Call (not because of my panic at coming onto OS after a weekend away and finding no cover page and feeling like my world was falling apart). The challenge was (quoted from JD's post):
Write a poem...any form...about the end of Earth as we know it on December 21st of 2012
RULES:
1) Must be written from the point of view of any living organism on this planet, be it human, insect, bacterium, or koala bear!!! :)
2) Cannot use the words or form of the words "destroy," "catastrophe," "asteroid," or "alignment."
3) Cannot use the word "and"
4) Include at least one OS guest in your poem by avatar name. ........Example....I could actually have "Little Kate" or "designator" in my piece.
Comments should include "IP#10" Please IM J D Smith with a heads up so he'll see the piece.
I just saw that JD seems to have compiled the poems - and there are so many great ones. But if you're feeling in an apocalyptic poetry kind of mind, why not give it a shot? Let J D know if you do write one, by PM-ing him, and maybe he'll add you to the list, as well.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Geraint Isitt
Maureen Andrade
nilesite
john guzlowski
Rosycheeks
Jacob Sugarman
Salon.com
Comments
even before the news of this oncoming calamity"
How sad you would have to be to find joy in the destruction of the world. Great imagery.
Thank you for your kind words about this poem. I couldn't help but think how there are people out there for whom, tragically, the end of the world has already come. I hope neither kinds of world's ends ever happen for any of us here.
This is terrific Alysa.
R+
Fantastic writing.
Two enthusiastic "thumbs up" :-)
Rated
P.S. Does JD know you've added to the mix?
"in the stillness or the wind,
wondering unspeakingly which
we’d last feel on our skin."
Personally, I hope it's touch.
LOL
Welcome!
Appreciate this expansive sense that you have given us. Do give us more.
Loved this Ms S..
HUGGGGGGGG
R
but happy it inspired dear A to wax poetic.
"the world’s end
in the days before,
when we knew there was no solution
to what would come.
already hearts had turned to ash."
that is haunting.
the end is not an event, it is a process.
we humans. gamblers who'd lost everything. shit.
yeah, maybe.
MATURE as matt when he
says, rightly,
"seems written from the top down, i.e. in the mind, with the gut advising and occasionally overriding. "
Certainly the world each of us produces to surround ourselves in our lives will end when we end. Having forgotten to have children, that conclusion seems relevant to me.
J D - Thank you so much for this great challenge, and for still allowing me to be included on your list. I hope the people who didn't already know about it, will check it out and read the other excellent responses - including your own!
"there was abandon,
but no one felt joy."
Funny how those lines reminded me of alcoholics and addicts. The parallel is chilling.