I don't have the vocabulary to describe it
because there are no words in any language
that would do it justice

"hopefully we have a very long time before that happens"

it hit me.
im very likely going to spend the last half of my life 
on the outside of what i want,
looking in at what i deserve.
wondering if that will be me next.
will you be in someone elses eyes?
and how that perso...

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binding my roots to the earth 

is a sacred therapy.

my soul recognizes it

as muscle memory.

this holy walk on eternal plank,

brushing elbows with the grey

while i claw to escape my skin.

a draw of breath into infinite abdication,

bleeding out in memory.

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love has a heavy price,

time demands its toll,

ephemeral the bonds

wanton mortality stole

he's in bed, very poorly,

I feel he might be dying,

lucozade's not working,

I hear only weak crying

yet he's had a good life,

for after all, he had me,

swains I rued when he

went down on his knee

long years I devoted

to what is my inferior,

he never had...

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sensitive about her body

gym doing physical jerks

I praised her endeavours

my flattery usually works

then came a stupid row

for jealousy of her friends

that fresh independence

envy ease of mind rends

my criticisms undermine

confidence to be curbed

barbed comments, digs

her self-worth disturbed

warned her shape awry

put her mind on the rack

g...

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They say it will soon be over

That it's just a teenage thing

They dont know what they're saying

Last night I gave you my ring

Its like I'd known you forever

We seem to go back to Creation

To the shrine of Adam and Eve

We send our invitation

Midnight at the end of time

Midnight at the end of time

I'll love you at least until

Midnight at the end of time

...

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Death - Poem by Marie 

Death came silent yet full of noise
Unseen by all in view
Sly like a fox, yet silent like a bird in flight
Its grip took hold tighter than tight.

Is there really no escape from the word DEATH? 
Like tree roots it grows stronger killing each breath
Death destroys all families caring for none
Happy one moment here, next life is gone

No thought of sadness for one...

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The bulwark is protection
from him, not for him.
He sidles along
the perimeter,
Touching the sides,
looking about furtively,
imagining tunnels and
catapults that could,
in another time and
circumstance, be his aids.

He’s come this far,
but in his old age
he has no choice
but to keep searching
for an opening,
for he’ll have no
ingress without invitation.

And at last, he finds
...

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Poetry about Real People - The power of poetry in hospice care 

There is a tension between the advance of medical science, that pursues its ability to fix and treat, and an acceptance of the natural order of death and how that may be experienced. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and health researcher, has reignited this debate with his book 'Being Mortal' (and also presented the 2014 Reith Lectures on B...

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My heart breaks for those

in care homes

sitting patiently

waiting to die

Sometimes remembering

who you are

sometimes silently crying

You wait with them

day by day

When you look into their eyes

there is nothing there

no fear, no desperation

and above all, no hope

In-between doses of morphine

when the pain makes them scream

they beg to...

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Imperfect

Naive

Empty

Exasperating

Dying

Young

Obsolete

Unbearable

Broken

Anxious

Crying

(un)Kind

Please come back

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The large Greek island of Naxos in the Cyclades group is an excellent example of the best of its kind, and in any era: wealthy, influential, single-minded, ancient and beautiful. The narrow passage-like streets of Chora, its major settlement, inspire in some an other-worldly sense of the preternatural, the extraordinary. Hence this speculation.

Distant Windows

Out of silence a figure ap...

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words

            no man should know

            or say

words

            no child should hear:

            parent, pray

            to be spared.

as he sat with his sons at home

and struggled to find

words:

he knew

            she will never return to us

he knew

            she is too ill

In a time when she was strong

for them

as her body weake...

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How brave, in reality, is a ‘brave face’?

A facade shared, it would seem,

by the majority of the human race.

Beneath the flaking paint of a painted mask

lies a truth too long and painful to explain

no matter how oft you care to ask.

How long before the cracks become too wide

to conceal with powders and creams

and the crimson smile starts to slide.

How long...

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How do you say goodbye

to everyone you love,

your family and friends

who you hold high above.

How do you say goodbye

to the one in your heart;

your soul mate, from who

none could tear you apart.

Your night and your day

and in every sweet way,

no words could express

what you're needing to say.

How do you say goodbye

to the child in your hand

...

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The flickering flame

in the dream of your eyes,

is a glimmer of life

in a darkening sky.

But little heat remains

to warm the weary hearts

of those so slowly left

bereft and torn apart

A chill wind blows a tear

across the cooling fires,

a rain of lasting love falling

softly through life's briars

A trickle of silent sorrow

leaving trails on shall...

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A LONELY LAMENT

The spark of a flame
In the dream of your eyes
Flickering life
In a darkening sky

The depths of a life
Of torment and pain
A swirling pull
From a deepening drain

But heat yet remains
To warm the heart
Of those so dearly
Torn apart

A cold wind blows a tear
Across the cooling fires
The rain of love
Falling through life's briars

A river of sorrow
Streaking ...

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Been there

Done it

Eaten it

Drunk it

Almost drowned in it

Nearly died

Praised it

Cursed it

Dodged it

Traversed it

Just you name it

I’ll have tried

Smoked it

Snorted it

Been traumatised by it

Reduced to tears by it

Laughed and cried

Run it

Walked it

Chased it

Caught it

Wished I hadn’t bothered s...

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Your Excellency, a Lady of Separation!

I am cold, and that's a damnation!

The letter in the envelope, do not tear, my dove!

I am not lucky in death, I’ll be lucky in love!

Your Excellency, a Lady of Luck!

For someone you are kind, for another one a chuck

Nine grams in the heart, just wait, do not call!

 I am not lucky in death, I'll be a winner once for a...

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