Standing on the gallows
under distant skies of grey
soon I knock on Heaven's door
but you can now walk away
Though my neck is in the noose
on this my judgement day
I look to your passing Grace
please go on and walk away
I pause in this short silence
as you take the time to pray
listen to my last request
forget me and walk away
As I near this my end
I view life in mind's display
your only choice to take here
is to turn and walk away
There is only one ending
for the last act of this play
heed my words before I go
I beg you to walk a---
Posted at Poets and Storytellers United, Weekly Scribblings #40: Walking Away
A classic 'walking away' scenario, Joel, in a well-written ballad form.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. It just came out that way this time.
DeleteI like the story-like aspect of this piece. It makes me wonder about the life that was led up to this moment and the life able to walk away at this moment. Will she (because I love how Grace can mean a couple things here) be able to completely walk away? I suspect something will always be left behind.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this brought out these thoughts, Rommy. Thank you for sharing. There may be something more here and maybe I can incorporate this into a larger piece I'm working on. Hmmm.
Deletewaaaaay cool. Well done, Joel.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that, Ron. Thank you
DeleteOh yes, what Kim said. It sounds like one of those mournful cowboy/gunslinger ballads I used to listen to when I was growing up! (I never really lost my taste for them.)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this drew out some of these thoughts. It could be from a repressed sad cowboy song, who knows?
DeleteThanks for sharing, Rosemary.
I like how Grace can be taken as several things, which makes the last request different depending on who the reader sees Grace to be. I know you know, but still!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa. Each reader is taking a slightly different interpretation and that's a wonderful thing.
DeleteRead like a lament as well as a prayer
ReplyDeleteNice one Joel
Much💖love
That is a wonderful thought, Gillena. Thank you
DeleteI agree with Rosemary. It needs to be put to music. I truly enjoy your poems, Joel.
ReplyDeleteIf you can set the chords, we can split the royalties. Ha!
DeleteThank you, Rosemary. That's a wonderful thought.
What a beautiful and touching poem this is.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. I appreciate this.
DeleteI enjoyed reading your poem and now of course I am really wanting the backstory.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen. I'm going to have to get to work, then.
DeleteI began early in the year "walking away." There were far too many in my people baggage I needed to unpack. It has been hard, but I feel so much better for it.
ReplyDeleteEach of us have a journey and sometimes we must be on the path alone. I wish you luck on your path.
DeleteThanks, Suzie.
This is brilliant. A dying person's plea to walk away before the end. And as a reader I was roped in, I didn't walk away in time, because I saw the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. A little pun thrown in is appreciated as well.
DeleteBrilliant, Joel! Hard to walk away, even when asked.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara. I appreciate your words.
Delete