Curtains Close 306 Current Version Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

The number in the title refers to the chronological order of the first version unless the poem was omitted from the original list and rediscovered. Revised versions retain the initial number. Kindly request permission before copying. For previous versions entitled The Curtains Close and Curtains Close 21 April 1990 revised 2 September 2006 and 20 May 2008 see below.

see below for initial version and also see acrostic version entitled Curtains written 1 May 2013

At last, too fast, the curtains close,
lights dim, and sweepers clear away
ice-cream containers as the day
slips silently where no-one knows.
Of all life's battles little shows!
What fond farewell will faintly spray
love's perfume on life's hearse to say
a last adieu before it goes.
Nostalgic tears on self's wind blows
to comfort inner fears that play
round Man's existence, short our stay!
Who guidance gives as Future's flows
engulf all in a tidal wave
where memories are hard to save?

(21 April 1990)

Cast down, downcast, life’s curtains close.
Unique light dims. Brush sweeps away
Rubbish, dust toxic, as last day
Terminates where no-one knows.
As final fanfare, shadow shows'
Impulsive flickers farewells spray,
Nostalgic tears of breath that flows
Soon fades, fast cast off from life's play.
Cravens shake, quake: mortal clay
Unmade fades, waste tastes. Self betray.
Ruins bogged logs, blogs [l]ink life's woes,
Tainted tale eclipsed, lost way.
SCURf shed, serf's surf turf dead Time’s tide sucks marrows dry,
TAIN Superficial spurned, urned, earned rest questions “why”?

Clipped face, stripped place, run race, shunned trace
Unwinds pale veil mind's memory.
Reel spiel deals cards, real wheel turns, we
Trash out, forget past's petty pace
All's torn, dawn born, night flight, gods' grace
Is shot bolt shoot chute history
Needs no more. Time, Titan, feeds. See
Salt tears stream from lost cause, lost case,
Crass subterfuges can't replace
Urgent youth's spontaneity.
Rot, pain, sot bane. Death, tsunami,
Takes life to task, returns to base.
Inbuilt coup de grâce, dreams' frozen tears,
Seem all most draw from washed out years.

(1 May 2013)