When the end comes
it's not announced by trumpets,
nor by red carpet to welcome it.
When the end comes,
it's manifested in deaf ears,
and in sharp words that sting.
Smooth verses
are stored away like
ornaments after Christmas.
Silence gnaws like
acid on metal,
the exterior still shinny and gleaming.
Green fields turn brown
from drought.
Halfway roads are less traveled,
the cold hangs in the air,
even though the sun is shinning.
Yikes. Not a fun time, the end. And the end can sneak up on you as well. Unnoticed until too late. Silence can be deadly as well, eating away at relationships.
ReplyDeleteugh - that is extremely painful... the end often doesn't announce itself in a way that we can turn the steering wheel around - i wish we could more often
ReplyDeleteStark reality that touches us all. When I worked hospice, we sometimes asked patients to visualize how they would like it to be.
ReplyDeleteAyala, consider posting this for Poets United Midweek Motif, where the prompt is "Silence" this week. Your poem fits perfectly!
ReplyDeleteYour poem echoes a number of endings, a person's death or that of a relationship. It is always painful.
ReplyDeleteThat ending is painful ~ I specially like this part:
ReplyDeleteSilence gnaws like
acid on metal,
Oh the end.. something that is like a snake coiled up.. silently it slithers, and the green turning brown.. many ends are hard to consider.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right.
ReplyDeleteOoh, this is so ominous and eerie, but also filled with such truth.
ReplyDeleteI especially loved: " Smooth verses
are stored away like
ornaments after Christmas."
Yes.
Indeed.. the end does not announce itself coming... powerful write.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully penned!
ReplyDeleteThe end pops up when it likes, no reason or rhyme to it most times.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is sharp and tight. I certainly captures that feeling of the end, while life goes on for others.
ReplyDeleteThis is how the (world) ends, not with a bang but a whimper.....this powerful poem brings that poem to mind. So many times, the end of a life or relationship is so painful.
ReplyDeleteThis is how the (world) ends, not with a bang but a whimper.....this powerful poem brings that poem to mind. So many times, the end of a life or relationship is so painful.
ReplyDeleteSilence gnaws like acid on metal... so true!
ReplyDeletegnawing silence and even the sun can't give warmth...yeah...it Is the end...great lines Ayala...
ReplyDeleteOh! this is done so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteAnd when a body lose its path,
the soul is hurt;
It flitters, jitters
and argue with its bearer,
when the final bell rings?
It weathers!!!
Halfway roads are less traveled,
ReplyDeletethe cold hangs in the air,
even though the sun is shinning.
One are dragged back in progress by half measures not rightly thought of. Very true in many instances Ayala!
Hank
Beautiful and haunting.
ReplyDeleteOld towns on small highways..
ReplyDeleteBusiness goes..
withering away..
people staying
separating
inside..
outside..
all around
but online
is no end
for some
who
otherwise
will be
separated
again..:)
The lines that got me are "smooth verses stored away like ornaments after Christmas". I wonder about my writing, after I am gone.......
ReplyDeleteThese lines: "Smooth verses
ReplyDeleteare stored away like
ornaments after Christmas.
Silence gnaws like
acid on metal,"
WOW! You paint such effective word pictures with these lines! Excellent.
Good heavens, this is painful to read. I love the last two lines.
ReplyDeleteyes ~
ReplyDeleteThe melancholy is palpable in your words. xo
ReplyDeleteOh goodness this hurts. :( -Patricia
ReplyDelete