Between Walls Of Pale Lilac. Poem by Ann Beard
Between Walls Of Pale Lilac.
Between walls of pale lilac she lay,
her body contracting as if to give birth.
But instead of a child at the end of the day
Her soul fought the ties that bind it to earth.
A fearsome struggle starts deep inside,
shown by convulsions that grip her form.
Her breathing resembled a hesitant tide
lasting through hours from dusk to dawn
Sad vigil is kept by the side of her bed
A nurse tells her when she is ready, let go.
Bitterness tinges the words that she said.
'Tell me how, tell me now, if you know”.
The nurse turned her back on the question so clear,
afraid her kind words would add fear and distress.
And the end of a life came another step near,
while the sun through a window sent rays to caress
The violence subsides her breathing is shallow
she lay never moving her eyes fixed ahead
I grip her hand tightly her colour is sallow,
she smiled then was gone leaving only her dread
Roan. Jan 2008
You my friend are a kindred soul! I can feel that time and place. Thanks for sharing your remarkable work.
Ann, an outstanding and compassioned filled witness - our watch of the dying strengthens understanding, take care Deana
So tenderly and compassionately written Ann and with the difficult subject matter which is usually dealt with in poetic imagery - you have excelled...... thank you for this honest appraisal of death.......10 From Fay.
Ann your stunning poem portrays an acute snapshot of an end of life situation and a reminder for many that the death transition is not always swift or painless.....10
Interesting the way you have structured this one - and the mix of tenses (deliberate, I'm sure) . At first, it jarred, but on a second and third reading, seemed a perfect way of expressing the present/past dilemma of the final transition. This is a beautifully written poem about the ultimate letting go, the lilac walls and the caress of the sun adding some pretty reminders of the normalcy of life, even in death. 'Bitterness tinges the words that she said. 'Tell me how, tell me now, if you know”.' I found particularly poignant. love, Allie ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Joyce Hemsley here - I think your poetry is brilliant Ann; Well understood and true to life. I think you must enjoy writing poetry - it appeaers so. Thank you from Joyce.
A beautifully conceived and delivered poem which whilst it is sad is also the succesful conclusion to a life ivor
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 7:56:13 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Ann, a vivid account of the last moments. Found this to be a good piece of writing. Ian