I Close My Eyes Poem by David Ignatow

I Close My Eyes

Rating: 3.2


I close my eyes like a good little boy at night in bed,
as I was told to do by my mother when she lived,
and before bed I brush my teeth and slip on my pajamas,
as I was told, and look forward to tomorrow.


I do all things required of me to make me a citizen of sterling worth.
I keep a job and come home each evening for dinner. I arrive at the
same time on the same train to give my family a sense of order.


I obey traffic signals. I am cordial to strangers, I answer my
mail promptly. I keep a balanced checking account. Why can’t I
live forever?

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Elaine Severin 29 March 2012

You did everything right. Why can't you live forever?

4 1 Reply
Kim Barney 22 April 2015

Because he died in 1997.

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Kumarmani Mahakul 03 June 2019

A brilliant poem is so touchingly delineated. Thanks and congratulations for being chosen this poem as modern poem of the poem of the day.

3 1 Reply
Kim Barney 22 April 2015

He lived to 83 years, nine months and ten days. That's not forever, but it's not bad. My mother only lived to be 44, and her mother only 61.

3 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 03 June 2019

A beautifully conceived modern song of a modern man bound by the sense of punctuality and decorum. Well worth modern poem of the day.

1 1 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 03 June 2020

Idealistic life style and it's implementation. Well deserved modern poem of the day.

0 0 Reply
Mark Heathcote 03 June 2020

We follow all the rules, play the odds and yet we still have our challenges and head-on collisions. A good poem!

0 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 03 June 2020

Congratulation for being chosen second time as the modern poem of the poem of the day.

1 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 03 June 2020

I close my eyes like a good little boy.............as a standard boy I do all things required of me.........beautiful poem shared...... thanks for sharing

0 0 Reply
Rajnish Manga 03 June 2019

That's a fascinating journey of a man to acquiring the qualities of a gentleman. Very sensible and appealing. Thanks and Congrats.

3 0 Reply
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David Ignatow

David Ignatow

Brooklyn/ New York
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