Wednesday, May 15, 2013

513 : The Last Journey


Sunday Whirl (Wordle #108) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:  

mouth, vow, drone, space, chants, sun, 
binding, crook, circling, broken, cave, fist


The Last Journey

The priests chant in the setting sun,
Their drone reflects their pain.
Their pleading are to no avail,
Mouthed in faith but said in vain.

The Boy-King’s earthly days are done,
Embalmed, he shows distain,
While in his fists, a crook and flail,
The symbols of his reign.

Protocol drives all actions now,
Unbroken from the past.
The priests involved all understand
The binding rules of caste.

Circling, they then fulfilled their vow
And placed the Son of Ra
Into a cave, in the desert sands,
His entrails in a jar.

Such is the lot of those alive
Within this earthly space;
Dignity is not guaranteed
When given Death’s embrace.

Despite what even kings contrive
Death presents an equal face,
But it is a dismal one indeed,
And quite devoid of grace.


---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2013
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23 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 15, 2013

    wow. What poem to work on, nice rhyme, metering, story - and great statements both about castes - but especially about death

    " Dignity is not guaranteed
    When given Death’s embrace."

    and then the ultimate statement:
    "Death presents an equal face,"

    a powerful line by itself.

    Randy


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  2. AnonymousMay 15, 2013

    This is wonderful I agree with the thewritersvillage and your choice of topic is superb!

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  3. Brilliant and so vivid.

    "Despite what even kings contrive
    Death presents an equal face,
    But it is a dismal one indeed,
    And quite devoid of grace." - Superb ending.

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  4. Dignity is not guaranteed when given death's embrace.I have so much to say about this but I wont. It's a beautiful Sydney day and I don't want to spoil it.

    Reminds me of when a friend of mine was dying and some fool relative of hers wanted to send along one of those hideous clowns that visit the dying in hospital.I still shudder when I think of it.Strange coincidence I was just talking about this last night.You have been eavesdropping in my brain:)
    Good poem on relevant interesting topic that invites endless discussion.

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  5. Mind you, I have always been told that 'you can't take it with you' and the Son of Ra and all his relatives certainly did.

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  6. Superb write - your topic is superb!

    Anna :o]

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  7. Death is indeed the great equaliser (Shakespeare?). Again you have come up with something so seamless from a list of disconnected words, you either have a gift with these or work really hard at them :)

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    Replies
    1. It started with making the [crook = pharoah symbol] link and progressed from there.

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  8. J, you have done well with a subject that is hard to focus on. Excellent rhythm and rhyme in the poem as well. Sorry for my late visit, you know how life can be.

    Pamela

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  9. One of the best poems I have read. Delightful. :)

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  10. death spares none, be it prince or pauper

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  11. Such is the lot of those alive Within this earthly space - ever so true. The moment we are born, we are destined to die. Love the rhyming in your poem.

    dropping by from the Poetry Pantry linkup
    Suzy at http://ilasoulpoems.blogspot.co.nz/

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  12. Great feel to this piece. I've never read a poem like this one. You worked within some confines, yet came out with a really fresh piece.

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  13. smiles...the great equalizer death....even kings must face that...and regardless your caste it will find you....

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  14. 'Despite what even kings contrive
    Death presents an equal face...' so true!

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  15. AnonymousMay 19, 2013

    This is excellent!

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  16. Powerful, especialy like those last two stanzas.

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  17. "Death presents an equal face." Wonderful poem, so well penned.

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  18. Always enjoy your meter and rhyme, seems so effortless and I known it's not. Death does present an equal face, Excellent poem:-)

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  19. AnonymousMay 20, 2013

    Even the poem on the page looks like a sarcophagus - nice strong images.

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  20. AnonymousMay 20, 2013

    I love the rhythm of this piece! Very original take on the prompt and I agree, death steals all of one's dignity!Twirling

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  21. Yeah, Cos. Death and taxes. Whoever said the thing about being horrified when someone wanted to send a CLOWN to the hospital to cheer up a dying loved one. Just seeing a clown in a weakened state would take me over the edge!

    But I digress. This meditation on staring death in the eye, on how weak and helpless we really are in our earthly bodies, says so much. I don't fear death, honestly. I fear a lot in life, though, like lingering in hospice hooked up to stuff. Now THERE is another loss of dignity... Great stuff, Cos. Amy

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  22. Death knows no kings too! lovely piece

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