Speaker for the Dead

9 Comments

Tags:
  • Death
    • ,
  • Sadness
    • ,
  • Life

    Poem Commentary

    In his "Ender" series Orson Scott Card introduces the concept of the "Speaker for the Dead". The Speaker tells the true stories of one's life not the flowery and dressed up eulogies we often hear at funerals. Last night I woke up at midnight to find that I was being visited by three spirits, all real people I have known in one way or another, and who insisted that I speak for them. It was obvious that they weren't going to let me sleep until I consented. So in the dark of the night I wrote this piece for my deceased friends.

    Speaker for the Dead

     I was 16 when I leapt
    Under that oncoming train.
    I thought I couldn't carry on,
    I couldn't bear the pain.

    16 short years, not enough
    To understand my choice.
    I cannot speak, would you consent
    To stand in as my voice?

    I was a real hep cat,
    I lived to jive and dance.
    My life was wrenched away that day
    In a tank in northern France.

    I think I felt it coming,
    Understanding war is hell.
    If you told my mom I loved her.
    That would sure be swell.

    I was only 7 when
    My heart gave out on me
    I never got to play baseball,
    I never saw the sea.

    I didn't get to grow up.
    Too much was left unsaid.
    Do you think that you could be
    My Speaker for the Dead?

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    Olan01 commented on Speaker for the Dead

    09-29-2010

    Wonderful poem, wonderful idea to give the dead a voice. My father was in WWII and came back an isolated soul. I asked him once did he want to travel and see the world. He answered, "I have already seen too much of it. I crossed the Alantic by ship; I walk through Northern Africa with the tanks, plus; Sicily, Italy, France, the Battle of the Bulge, through the death camps in Europe all the way to Frankenstein, Germany. I have seen enought of the world, Son." He lived, millions of souls died; I am happy you gave voice to one. Olan
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    ginga commented on Speaker for the Dead

    09-20-2010

    cookie, This poem is truly inspiring, expertly written and the genre speaks minions as the dead ask you for your tongue. ginga
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    StandingBear commented on Speaker for the Dead

    09-16-2010

    It's a great thing that you sleep most nights or you'd certainly be writing like this every single day. My best friend and several others I was close to have also passed, one day i'll write about them. Great write! SBear
    Reply to Comment

    gmcookie

    09/16/2010

    Thank you my friend...

    Chaos128 commented on Speaker for the Dead

    09-15-2010

    You've got the touch,G. Nobody will ever dispute that. "Speaker for the Dead" is poignant but never self-pitying; a sober acknowledgement of thing as they are. PS I've read every book in the "Ender" series; it's mesmerizing stuff. PPS don't mess with 7 foot tall Beans ha ha
    Reply to Comment

    gmcookie

    09/15/2010

    Lol... As any 5 year old can tell you, it's a good idea to keep away from green beans anyway... or any green vegetables for that matter! Yes, it's a great series, that "Ender" series. In this poem, the first two stanzas are about my best friend, John, who committed suicide when we were both 16. The next two are about my Uncle Vernon, who died way too young in the Normandy Invasion. The final two are about my cousin Tommy, a tragic story if there ever was one. They all died young and constituted my introduction to the subject of death and dying.

    SavVySam commented on Speaker for the Dead

    09-14-2010

    The way you crafted this piece packs a punch inside kid gloves...nicely done!
    Reply to Comment

    Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.

    Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) U.S. poet.

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