A Final Goodbye (A Poem for Matthew) by David vd Merwe
@Paljas (146)
South Africa
March 17, 2017 6:55am CST
I'm an Afrikaans poet and at the moment dabbling in English poetry.
Some thoughts and/or feedback on poem below?
For grief has come my way,
unexpected and causing pain
and left me, but only for an instant,
with a heart ripped apart.
You leaving me without thought
so suddenly and without warning,
flung me into a state of selfishness,
not knowing your ultimate longing.
But, I will weep no longer
for your departure is no reason for sadness.
You have completed the circle of mortality
and found the joy of enlightenment.
Looking back in anger and sorrow,
are but emotions of not understanding
that our existence on earth is a delusion of life
and yet, we consider it to be so significant.
You have come to the end of a journey,
knowing that it is over and time to change course
and yet you are not bitter or lost,
because you have found peace in a greater knowledge.
The time I shared with you,
with much love and no remorse,
left a brightness in my being,
that will overcome even the darkest night.
It is time to say goodbye for now -
with no fear and without judgment.
(Copyright 2016-2099 David vd Merwe)
5 people like this
6 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29256)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Mar 17
I like that "circle of mortality." Very well done. @Jessicalynt has a five or six word poetry challenge each Saturday that is fun to take part in. I have some poems submitted to our Oregon State Poetry Assn. contest for the first time in a few years.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Mar 17
Thanks for the shout out, it should be up here in a few
1 person likes this
@Paljas (146)
• South Africa
23 Mar 17
Great that you have submitted poems to Oregon State Poetry Assn.). I enjoy poetry, but not very big in SA and certainly not Afrikaans. A few years back it was much better. I guess then there was more time to read. I just started to do some work in English. Also a reason that I have joined myLot. The experience (writing in English) will help me a lot.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
that was well done, both sad and happy!
I will note, on an aside, I do a poem challenge each saturday morning (not sure what time that is for you, I am in the same time zone as mylot if that helps)
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Mar 17
@Paljas I will post it up here in a few
1 person likes this
@Paljas (146)
• South Africa
26 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt Mmmm,.. Saturday afternoon here. Usually busy, but will try next week.
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
24 Mar 17
Thank you for sharing your poem. I like it and the way you express your loss. In the first line I think you need to change "grieve" to "grief." That is probably just a spellcheker error. It is so nice to see poets on the board. There are quite a few here.
1 person likes this
@Paljas (146)
• South Africa
24 Mar 17
Thank you for pointing it out. It should be grief. Not sure if it was me or the spellchecker.
