Foolish Chipping at My Epitaph


I want to recall flight
without broken wings…
skin that was flushed pink…
memories when they
were first written…

Unbreak the mirror I fractured
with my petty longing.
Why try to live in a book’s ending
when there is more life to write?

How foolish to chip at my epitaph
by retelling past glory as if the sun
will no longer shine to add new
sentences to my story.

I am a much better performer
in life’s continuum of joy and sorrow
than the tearful novice who crumpled
in the first act when circumstance
rewrote her fledgling script.

For those who watch and toss opinion
I will consider what I deem as worthy
and erase nonsense without a thought.

I have more to do…
more to say….
and more to give…
in the unknown
number of days
left for me to celebrate.



  
Susie Clevenger 2013

Susan at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads challenged us to take the last line or lines of one of our previously written poems and use it as the first line/lines in a new poem. Here is the link to my previous poem Yesterday's Immortality and the link to what other's created for Real Toads, Sunday Mini-Challenge


Comments

Maude Lynn said…
I love the message, and the delivery is flawless.
JayG said…
How crazy would it be to be young again without the advantage of our mature experience? Neither are we held hostage by the opinions of others. Great! You're right. There's still much to do. The story keeps writing itself.
Susan said…
WOW. Such a pleasure to travel these lines with you! Taken from a memory-end poem (a gorgeous poem in its symmetry), this reopens a door and leaves the cataracts behind, because:
"Why try to live in a book’s ending
when there is more life to write?"
How you pace me backwards from the end into the middle is marvelous. I'm going right back up to the top to read this again.
Kay L. Davies said…
Fabulous, Susie. Absolutely the way to look at life, without a doubt.
We will await further words from you.
K
Unknown said…
what a great commitment to living the life you want, to corrective past mistakes and moving on. nice write, Susie!

http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/01/26/advice/
Susie Swanson said…
Wow is right.. I love this one and felt like I was there with you..Take care..
Scarlet said…
I love the power of your voice, and this is an uplifting message as well ~

Like Kay, we await more ~ Smiles ~
Judy Roney said…
So much wisdom in your words here. I'm so thankful for the last stanza. I also like the erasing of the nonsense. Lovely way to lead a life.
Manicddaily said…
Yes, agree - that the last stanza is especially strong and true. Well done. k.
Panchali said…
Wow...there's fierce power in those lines. Of course, that should be the way of life...great job!
Anonymous said…
Really enjoyed reading this. Wisdom and strength shining in each line. Lovely.
Mary said…
Susie, I love the philosophy in this poem. I definitely like the idea of considering what you deem worthy and erasing nonsense without a thought. And, yes, to celebrate the days left! No matter how many~
Kerry O'Connor said…
More to do, more to say, more to give...
This business of living is exhausting and you approach is inspiring.
Marian said…
keep celebrating!
Hannah said…
So much truth and wisdom in this one...living in the past of either failure or success can be so detrimental. I love this:
"as if the sun
will no longer shine to add new
sentences to my story."

So true, Susie!!
Ella said…
Wow Susie
I need to chip away more after reading this poem~
So much reflection in your words!
I feel guided to do more today, after reading this...
Thank you! :D
...and that from the pen of one so young..
Remarkable, though chilling.