Salutations, my dear digital friends!
I lost a cousin a few years ago. He was 55 years old and simply died in his sleep. Not sure a reason was ever identified. He fell asleep and never woke up.
So tragic for all of us – but especially his wife and teenage kids.
And I have thought a lot about what that must be like… to fall asleep and never wake up.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, if I could live forever… count me in.
Upload my consciousness to a machine? Yup. Sign me up.
But if/when I resign myself to the fact that I must inevitably die, then there is something peaceful to me about dying in your sleep.
This poem speaks to that imagined transition. Seeks to find some beauty in something so difficult.
As always, please let me know your thoughts / feelings / reactions to this poem in the Leave a Reply section below.
-PS Conway ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
distant shore
head nestled in pillow clouds, edge of sleep
lost in liminality, oh to die
in this moment, slice the Veil open wide
take the hand of Morpheus, settle deep
into a dream of Elysian fields
bright in hues of amber, russet, and green,
pause, drink long from the waters of Lethe
embrace the cool absence such bounty yields
to see a final sunset, contemplate
the soft ache of life’s transient concerns;
acknowledge this warm heart needs, warm heart yearns
for one last ambrosia kiss, seal this fate
to fade away, for neither poets nor
gods can disobey the summons of Nyx,
pay the Ferryman, maneuver the Styx
leave life’s long worries on a distant shore
A peaceful departure, how perfect. We sleep per chance to dream, to die or wake unto another day. Life’s certainty, we are programmed to die but when?
To live and love in the moment is a must do.
Another beautiful and thought provoking poem.
Thank you 🙏☘️☘️☘️
Sage advice for all, Sandie! Love this comment so much. Truly appreciate your kind thoughts on the poem, too. Cheers 🙏🏻🍷🌹✨
Oh, if that is how we pass away, I welcome death when it is my time to go. How wondrous! How beautiful! So dreamlike, yet so real! Excellent job, my friend!
You and me both, PS! Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🍷🌹✨
I love “the soft ache of life’s transient corners” and also also the feeling of “cool absence”. I also believe that “leaving life’s long worries” would be the ultimate peace. This poem shows off your mastery of mythology once again Pat!
Thanks so much, Naomi… so glad you liked it. I tend to think the mythology and allusions help to enhance the dreamlike state the poem was exploring. Or at least that’s the goal.. hehe. 😉🍷🌹🙏🏻✨
I don’t mind about being dead, but do mind the end of life! I would like this poem on my lips at the time, to distract and comfort my family gathered round, reassuring them that my journey is onward and positive, the sunset this side is the sunrise over the Styx.
What a beautiful thought… and so poetically phrased! Thank you so much.🖤🙏🏻🍷🌹✨