Poets logo

From Whispered Grief to Eruptive Memory

For Kayleigh Fraser's "One Of Us" Unofficial Poetry Challenge!

By Paul StewartPublished about a year ago 2 min read

a tempest won't rip through the streets of your town

neither will the rain pelt the surface of the earth

more or less than it did the day before or will

the day after

-

a war won't erupt in foreign and domestic lands

any more than it would on any given day of the year

nor will a mortar pierce the quiet in the morning

the day after

-

a mourning cry will not sound throughout the land

no minute's silence will be held and not procession

will fill the squares of cities and towns across the globe

the day after

-

a murmur will be felt, not seismic, but internally

in the hearts of the few I call my kin, my family

my circle of people in this troubled existence

the day after

-

no platitudes or sycophancy is needed for mourners

a hearty meal and sympathy is needed for mourners

no words of "live a full life" will be uttered

the day after

-

for the dead no nothing of the living, those who remain

it's inconsequential, of little matter, to the fallen

you do you, as the saying goes, but, remember me, perhaps

the day after

if tomorrow starts without me

*

a tempest will rip through the streets of your town

and the rain of a thousand storms will drench the earth's surface

more than ever has ever been experience since the Great Flood

the day after

-

a war will erupt in domestic and foreign lands alike

of greater note and ferocity than any normal day of the year

and mortar fire, gunfire and rockets will shatter the quiet

the day after

-

a mourning cry of birds and mammals will steal the world's attention

and silence will fall as a procession is led through

the towns and cities, as myriads gather in squares worldwide

the day after

-

a heart murmur, deep rumble will be felt, seismic, but internal

in the hearts of not just the few, but the many

beyond my kin, my family, my circle

the day after

-

sycophancy and platitudes will dilute the grief,

fasting and contemplation will exacerbate the grief,

"live a full life, in memory of me" will be the strapline

the day after

-

for the dead no nothing of the living, those who remain,

it's inconsequential, of little matter, to the fallen

you do you, as the saying goes, but, remember me, perhaps

the day after

If tomorrow starts without me

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: Hello, folks. I know I have a stack of notifications to catch up with and will in due time. Also...here is a poem for Kayleigh Fraser's "One Of Use" Unofficial Poetry Challenge. More on that below. Oh, and it may not be the most subtle entry. But...it's an entry.

Here's a few other things!

artfact or fictionheartbreakMental Healthperformance poetrysad poetrysurreal poetryStream of Consciousness

About the Creator

Paul Stewart

Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.

The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!

Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  2. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  3. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

Add your insights

Comments (13)

Sign in to comment
  • Grz Colmabout a year ago

    Nifty! Just reading a couple of your pieces tonight ..gotta a bit of brain fog ..so that is why I’m not commenting! As I won’t make sense.

  • D.K. Shepardabout a year ago

    I thought this was ending after the 6th stanza and then what a pivot! Excellent work, Paul! You explored the experience of grief so skillfully

  • Impressive! Like Cathy, I love the two views of the Day After. I especially like: “ a mourning cry of birds and mammals will steal the world's attention and silence will fall as a procession is led through the towns and cities, as myriads gather in squares worldwide the day after” Excellent image too!✅

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    This is great. I love the contrasting views. Well.done.

  • A. Lenaeabout a year ago

    The title is exquisite, and this poem holds it up with a steadfast foundation. Love the varying degrees with which you explore devastation, how it can be arbitrary and also everything. Loss is happening every second -alongside life. Very cool piece, Paul!

  • Kayleigh Fraser ✨about a year ago

    Wow… as expected, a strong entry from you, Paul! Great to see your name back in the notifications and hope you and Ruth are well 🙏🏻🌟

  • Whoaaaa, that was so dark, poignant and profound! A very Paulitical poem! 🍩🥐

  • 𝐑𝐌𝐒about a year ago

    Wow, that is deep, Paul. Perhaps deep like a knife cut. Powerful words, my friend!

  • John Coxabout a year ago

    Your poem's stark imagery and the wonderful line 'for the dead no nothing of the living' put me in mind of Wilfred Owen's poetry from the Great War (even our wars have stupid names) Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way To the siding-shed, And lined the train with faces grimly gay. Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray As men’s are, dead. From 'The Send Off'

  • Caroline Janeabout a year ago

    My internal post-apocalyptic bells are properly clanging now. (I didn’t even know they existed until I read this) I may have to dig a bunker and hide. Fab poem Paul!

  • D. J. Reddallabout a year ago

    The morbidly mundane and the immense and imaginary play funeral games herein. Well done indeed, good sir!

  • Mark Grahamabout a year ago

    I probably read it wrong, but so goes the world and everyone in it.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.