Life And Death. Poem by Michael Walker

Life And Death.

Rating: 4.7


I know, or I think I know, where I was born.
New Plymouth, a city with two sprawling cemeteries,
where I found my grandparents' gravestones at last,
but they were covered in gray lichen and moss.

The kindly sexton said she would spray the gravestones
and I will go back to see them cleaned and clarified.
My grandparents were always there for me.
My grandfather taught me table manners, sternly.

He and I used to watch the cricket at Pukekura Park
then we would wander around the lake,
seeing the sleek canoes gliding on the surface.
I loved to hear the fountain playing on and off.

I thought that death may not be the end,
when I found their graves last weekend.

-15 June,2016.

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I went to Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth close to the above date, searching for where I came from. Without the sexton's help, I would never have found the headstones in that sad place.
The phrase 'death is not the end' is the title of a song by Bob Dylan on his album 'Down In The Groove'(1988) . The song moves me and why not let Dylan have the last word on the subject?
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Darwin Henry Beuning 19 July 2019

Michael, This is one of my favorite poems of yours. I visit my grandparents graves when I visit Minnesota in the summer's. I miss them so.

7 0 Reply
Michael Walker 21 July 2019

I miss my grandparents after all these years, I hope to meet them again one day. (I revised this poem-a few changes) .

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Michael Walker 06 June 2017

I think that a sudden ending is better than a predictable one. It stays in the mind longer. Dylan's song 'Death Is Not The End' is a sublime song to me. Thanks for your comment.

5 2 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 09 July 2016

Life is mysterious in this Earth. Birth determines the certainty of death and this is truth in life. But you are true. Death is not the end of life rather this brings fortune of new life. Very interesting and amazing this poem is. Nice sharing. Congratulations! ..10

5 1 Reply
M Asim Nehal 09 July 2016

Nice poem and congrats for POTD...

4 2 Reply

This poem was Poem Of the Day in 2016. Congratulations.

0 0 Reply

"Death is not the end", reminded me of Bob Dylan. Then I saw your note and found the reference in it too. Lovely poem. Thank you for making me recall Bob and his songs

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nick kerr kerr 25 January 2023

not very impressive to me

0 0 Reply
Cody Lakota 22 July 2021

It's always nice to be able to connect with your ancestors.

0 0 Reply
Kim Barney 25 January 2021

(part 3) I like to tell people that I was born in a bank. I say that my mother went there and made a deposit, and sometimes they ask 'Don't you mean a withdrawal? '

2 0 Reply
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