From Whispered Grief to Eruptive Memory
For Kayleigh Fraser's "One Of Us" Unofficial Poetry Challenge!

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!
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
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions


Comments (13)
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.
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!✅
This is great. I love the contrasting views. Well.done.
This was heart-stilling, melancholic and poignantly put! Love what you did with this prompt Paul!
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!
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! 🍩🥐
Wow, that is deep, Paul. Perhaps deep like a knife cut. Powerful words, my friend!
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'
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!
The morbidly mundane and the immense and imaginary play funeral games herein. Well done indeed, good sir!
I probably read it wrong, but so goes the world and everyone in it.