|
The Assembly Line
by Don Matley
Birth: scheduled
Death: end of the line
Immortality: just a question of time
Where and when: irrelevant
Our birthmark:
But a number stamped on our bums
Whatever the number
The years to come
53: too short to enjoy
95: boredom sets in, get out of here!
70: Bingo! ....a nice round trip
Yes, stamp me with that.
Have we no say?
No matter.
Take what you get.
But what if you knew?
If you knew you were out at 53
Would you have lived differently?
Would you have yelled to be heard?
Draw attention to yourself with words absurd?
Would you sing more, dance more or even write
Or would you just go and fly a kite?
Oh I know, I know what you would change:
Absolutely nothing, nothing at all, all still the same
Because:
You lived for each day
You lived for every one
You treaded lightly not to offend
Your chin up and eyes forward at every bend
On the road never a burden
Always true and steadfast to the last
The call of reckoning beckoning you on
The song in your heart you shared with all.
And when they called out number 52
You remained calm and knew what not to do
If there were more like you, always a gentle sea
Time to say bye now, there calling your number,
53.
Bingo!
10/26/2007 Posted on 10/26/2007
Copyright © 2026 Don Matley
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 10/26/07 at 04:32 PM From the general to the achingly personal, this moves and displays a strange and true perspective and a serene acceptance of "number stamped. Reminds me how haunting it is to think the simple fact--the future is to come. |
| Posted by Sarah Graves on 10/27/07 at 01:16 AM I like the imagery you give about the assembly line, and the sameness quality it evokes for every one of us. When it comes down to it, that's all we really are in the end, a number. Like an assembly line, we are all connected yet detached. Great read :) |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 11/07/07 at 05:48 PM Excellent Don. I remembered this morning with the cold that Reen's birthday is coming up, and how she won't be here physically to celebrate it with us. Wondering also what she's thinking. One good thing to come out of her passing is that I'm trying to live my own life a little fuller with more singing and dancing. Thanks for posting this. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 10/04/09 at 04:15 PM Congrats on POTD! I like this exploration. |
|
