Epitaph
Here lies one who drowned in bitter tears,
Weighed down by sorrows, grief and fears.
Her stormy life a shipwreck of emotions,
A sea of troubles, and abstracted oceans.
Twice drown’d; in real time on the day,
And then once more in memory’s replay.
Tempestuous loves and stormy lovers,
A raft of heartaches from which none recovers.
Dragged down by torments and by tangled hair,
She opens wide her mouth and breathes no air,
Instead succumbs to soothing waves of balm,
And offers up her soul, and now is calm.
©Marilyn Brindley
©Marilyn Brindley
Submitted to Tess Kincaid's 'The Mag' where the image above, by 'The Fox and The Raven' was given to us as a prompt.
For those who are interested in such things, here are the references , mostly from Shakespeare.
(Sebastian, Twelfth Night: Act 2, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare)
Is numb’ring sands and drinking oceans dry.”
(Green, King Richard II :Act 2, Scene 2)
“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles.”
(Hamlet: Act 3,Scene 1)
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles.”
(Hamlet: Act 3,Scene 1)
The sea is large.
ReplyDeleteThe sea must know more than any of us.
Carl Sandburg
I must go down to the sea again,
ReplyDeleteto the lonely sea and the sky;
I left my shoes and socks there -
I wonder if they're dry?
Spike Milligan
What a gem of a reply! LOL
DeleteThank you Mike! Always good to know that one's earnest and heartfelt poem about a tormented soul who takes her own life, can evoke a humorous response! Shouldn't this parody of Masefield's great poem be on my previous post - The Box of Delights?
DeleteA good poem but a chilling image, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI used to think drowning is such a chaotic aggressive act of defiance. Now in poetry, I see it ends in quiet acceptance. Well done, Nell...
ReplyDeleteLove the Shakespearean treatment, Nell.
ReplyDeleteOh my your words bring such a sense of deep longing. As only one truly in love can travel, invited or not, through past times remembered, stormy or not. Yet, just in time she finds safe harbor.
ReplyDeleteHer stormy life a shipwreck of emotions,
ReplyDeleteA sea of troubles, and abstracted oceans.
Great watery images and I loved the word 'abstracted' used here.
It has a wonderful Shakespearean feel about it - especially the line about being "Twice drown's" - but with the wonderful modern illusion of real time.
ReplyDeleteRaw... a piece that evokes emotions for a woman lost in her sadness, very well mastered.
ReplyDeleteThis is felt... and I love the glimmer of hope in the end.
ReplyDeleteAfter such a stormy life, she deserves to at last rest in peace and calm. Love the touches from Shakespeare...
ReplyDeleteA raft of heat ache! boy that is a lot and a good description ,thanks
ReplyDeletenicely done and thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteTwice drown’d; in real time on the day,
ReplyDeleteAnd then once more in memory’s replay.
Tempestuous loves and stormy lovers,
A raft of heartaches from which none recovers
Personal tragedy and lots of sufferings in pursuing happiness in life. Often a common picture that many had to go through. Clever word-craft Marilyn!
Hank
Took my breath away - that's for sure! Fantastic poem.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the searing darkness and overwhelming sense of despair in this, Nell
ReplyDeleteNicely done. Especially liked the raft of heartaches from which none recovers.
ReplyDeleteYes, that fits quite a few characters, both Shakespearian and, sadly, real people. Well done.
ReplyDeleteVery nice Shakespearean twist...
ReplyDeleteVery nice, to be sure!
ReplyDeleteSmart and beautiful.
ReplyDelete