The Final Beat of My Heart

16 Comments

Poem Commentary

Prose of sorts on the inevitability of death.

The Final Beat of My Heart

 

The unceasing rhythm within my chest

pulses on as it has done for all

these many years. It is a constant reminder

 that my life has somehow survived

 yet another day and that I should cherish each

 minute and make use of every precious second.

 

I do not understand the true meaning

 of my presence here as I leave such thoughts

 to those that feel comforted by their

 belief that their god controls all

 and guides every aspect of their lives.

 

I do not scoff at their beliefs as I

 envy the comfort that they derive

from such a deep spiritual sanctuary.

One need only look about at the

wonders of this Earth to conclude that

powers beyond our imagination surely must exist.

 

So, I listen to the beat of my heart as I lay

silently in my bed and wonder how many

beats that may remain before I either pass

into the nothingness that spawned me or face

 the righteous judgment taught to me in my youth.

 

I breathe deeply savoring the sweetness of the

air that nourishes the blood flowing

 through my aging heart and dream of days

past when this heart was young.

 

In concert with my heartbeat I listen to

the sounds that provide the constant hum of

life in all of its forms. I hear the faint

 voice of my mother calling to me

 from some far distant place

 and my heart skips a beat.

 

Many decades ago I gave this old heart to

one that I knew would treat it with

 love and kindness and for all these many years

our hearts have beaten as one through the

joys and sorrows placed in our paths.

 

This heart beats on but it seems that it

grows wearier by the day.  If I allowed it

to stop but for a minute or two to rest, my life

 would vanish and the energy that I was born

 of would be released to seek shelter elsewhere.

 

I know that each beat of the heart is precious and

represents a tick of life’s clock. But “that

 which begins must end” and “that is as it shall be

for me as it was for those that came before me”.

 

I only hope that when my time comes

that I can look inward and give thanks

 at that very moment when I release my soul

  and prepare for the final beat of my heart.

 

©Copyright Charlie Gragg, June 5, 2010  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Merlyn commented on The Final Beat of My Heart

06-27-2010

Nicely done. You seem to have a great perspective on your life and a good grasp on what it means to be human. Thank you for sharing your vision.

Hampton

06/27/2010

It comes with age. Thank you.

stellar commented on The Final Beat of My Heart

06-26-2010

I am teary when I read this one...we can't escape death, sooner or later we all submit our life to him...but at least we tasted how sweet life is...better to love than nothing at all...great introspective write Hamp,,,^_^ v

stellar

06/26/2010

aw i mean better to live than nothing at all...

Hampton

06/26/2010

Many thanks for reading and commenting,

icu2 commented on The Final Beat of My Heart

06-09-2010

It probably was not your intention, but this lovely poem rings a bell of warning that the ship is coming into port...and the party at sea must come to an end. Aww...Charlie, don't think about that stuff. Then again, maybe you don't. I hope not. People leave this planet at every age imaginable, so you will probably live to well past one-hundred! Nice poem. Sorry for rambling...I'm tired.

Hampton

06/10/2010

WO and I intend to exchange poetic greetings well into the future. Thanks.

ginga commented on The Final Beat of My Heart

06-09-2010

Charlie, A poem that emotes so much about the human condition and the coming of all our ages.This poem gives reality to being a mortal soul. It makes one ponder that one should live life to its fullest. ty for the reality check and for your candor on looking over the past years as we age. ginga

Hampton

06/09/2010

Thank you my dear.

Chaos128 commented on The Final Beat of My Heart

06-09-2010

Profound and philosophical. I very much like the manner it which it purveys seriousness without being heavy or grim. Such delicate navigation requires a practiced hand.

Hampton

06/09/2010

Thank you, your comments warm my heart.

Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion.

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-English poet and playwright.

Hampton’s Poems (111)

Title Comments
Title Comments
Searching 5
The Poetess 14
Nonsense 12
Solitude 18
Lame Limericks 14
Message to Papa 15
Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
The Computer From Hell 18
Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
The Mind In Motion 13
The Game of Poetry 9
Silence 55
WordSlinger 19
Holiday Thoughts 12
Sweet Mary 18
From White to Grey to Black 19
The Reckoning 12
And All of That Jazz 16
Today 25
No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
Lucky 10
You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
Saturday Night 13
Political Change? 14
The Female Gender 17
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
Remembering 11
This Web We Weave 13
The End 16
The Day the Clouds Cried 16
The Path of Life 12
My Mother Ruth 12
Forever–ast
er
11
Humanities Challenge 14
A Cowboy's Perspective 12
July in Buda Texas 14
The OP Poets Parade 20
The Chatelaine 12
Shot Through the Heart 17
Poetry and Fine Wine 18
The Man What Am 10
The Final Beat of My Heart 16
The Rainbow of Poets 19
A Cowboy's Lament 13
Of This World I am Not 17
The Wee People 19
An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
The Scent of Love 14
Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
Memories of Times Past 13
The Dance of the Poets 20
The Confession 14
Road to Obscurity 18
Barbara 14
Shadows 15
Prescience 17
Words That Bind 54
Wondering 26
New Year News from Buda Texas 13
We Are All Witnesses 16
Christmas 25
A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
The 9 ers 24
Love Defined 27
Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
More News From Buda Texas 26
Choices 26
News from Buda, Texas 21
In Search of God 21
Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
Out of the Darkness 15
Visions from Within the Mist 18
Baseball 12
The Night Stalker 16
The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
The Sounds of Time 17
The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
Blah Blah Blah 14
One Two Three 13
Carpe Viam 11
Love in the Afternoon 13
The Moth 14
Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
The Creative Process 19
The Truth and the Tribe 19
The Long Wait. 19
Feathers 26
The Arrow 14
Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
Ghostly Images 16
Friends 11
Angels Without Wings 20
IN MY OWN WORDS 13
The Rider 16
Pride and Shame 18
The Winning Poet is.... 21
Memories 13
Politicians 67
Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
God's Visit 17
Poets and Poems 20
Love Thy Neighbor 13
Renewal 8
The Roar of Silence 17
Blessed Are These Days 4
Time and Space 5
Life's Journey 8
Gift To The Fallen 16
Hunger 21
The Antique Shop 30