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One More Step (Before My Death)
by J. P. Davies1:45 AM: Walking,
trying harder to breathe.
While streetlights change
Despite the lacking cars,
I run red lights.
Cool to the stroke,
of night's fingers on mine.
Hold on to pride.
Worrying the moon
into asking questions.
Don't you wonder why?
Televisions flicker blue and black.
There are others to whom
sleep will not come.
Walking, dreaming,
the moon still interrogates.
I offer no explanation past
footfalls on echoing roads.
Time and distance, are of no concern.
In lockstep with my shadow,
trying to separate intrinsic
inquiries from outer.
Walking.
Trying.
Asking.
Breathing.
Believing there is more
to one breath than to question
whether another will be drawn.
Life stills the inhalation,
before death can claim it.
Walking, I live breath to breath,
finding one more step, before my death.
05/04/2004 Posted on 05/04/2004
Copyright © 2024 J. P. Davies
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Rula Shin on 05/04/04 at 10:28 PM "Believing there is more to one breath than to question whether another will be drawn" - absolutely stunning! Not just that line, but this whole piece is beautiful. The speaker has transcended both "Time and distance [which] are of no concern." How very inspiring! This piece is full of awareness and such a passion for life. The speaker is able to walk from moment to moment, and in this way gains his magnificent freedom and solace, though not without struggle. In fact, this is THE struggle, "trying harder to breathe." The conflict is "trying to separate intrinsic inquiries from outer," but the awareness of the conflict's existence is much more significant. There never is a 'death' at all in the end...there is only LIFE and life no more. That's what I saw. EXCELLENT piece! :-)
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| Posted by Sarah Graves on 05/06/04 at 09:01 PM Good read. After the ending, I felt very uplifted. There's that last breath into eternity(whatever that may be). As a society, we tend to take those steps in our lives for granted; not thinking that they might be our last ones. |
| Posted by Joan Serratelli on 03/22/09 at 05:11 PM I have to agree with the anoe comments- dark piece, but uplifting at the same time. Thanks for the read! |
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