Fine And Private Place Poem by gershon hepner

FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE


The grave’s a fine and private place,
wrote Marvell. None do there embrace,
but in the grave there aren’t survivors
who have to plumb, like deep sea divers,
the depths, alone, no oxygen
provided by the comfort men
who act with sympathy and purpose
to bring survivors to the surface
once those who’ve died lie in their grave,
while telling them, “You must be brave.”

It’s as impossible to seek
replacement for what was unique
as going back in time to when
you were not a tragedienne,
but from the lighthouse comes a light
defying darkness of the night,
and you will leave sheol’s deep pit,
and find a flame will be relit
inside your fine and private place
where light will dark despair displace.


6/5/08