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Saturday, January 9, 2016

Islands of Memory and the Ferryman of Souls


Don't Pay the Ferryman
by sweetlittlevampire at deviantart.com


As I crossed the vast desert, 
I heard them, singing, 
as they paddled under the order of
the ferryman of souls.

They appeared around the bend, 
voices still ringing,
oars lifting and dipping,
with the wave-tops' pitch and roll. 

I stood on shore, and ready to step in.
They looked at me, oars paused. 
The ferryman shook his head.
"You've yet to pay in full your karmic debt.
Not this time.
It is not your time just yet."

Singing still, they vanished round a bend,
their voices sweet as ever song could be,
and wistfulness lay within my heart, not dread,
at how close a thing had almost come to be.


for Brendan's wonderful prompt at Real Toads : Islands. But you must go read it all, it is very wonderful. This is based on something that happened to someone I knew, during a near death experience. 

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19 comments:

  1. GailJanuary 9, 2016 at 8:20 PM

    This is beautiful. It is reminds me of a dream I've had many times.

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  2. brudbergJanuary 9, 2016 at 11:24 PM

    So true.. There is a time somewhere where we have the funds to cross the river.. But there are the days when we can hear them singing.

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  3. ToniJanuary 9, 2016 at 11:42 PM

    Very nice.

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  4. Kerry O'ConnorJanuary 10, 2016 at 1:29 AM

    The ferryman awaits us all, perhaps closer than we think.

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  5. BrendanJanuary 10, 2016 at 3:21 AM

    Thanks Sherry, the weave here is entrancing and, yes, the proximity is one of wonder and longing, not fear, from both sides of the boat. Our culture has built such walls of terror against death (Trump is one of them), and yet the door is wide open, and this song is beyond.

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  6. hedgewitchJanuary 10, 2016 at 6:15 AM

    Yes indeed, Sherry--you make us all long to hear that final song, and then we perhaps can know some peace.

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  7. MaryJanuary 10, 2016 at 6:29 AM

    Eventually we ALL must pay!

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  8. Maude LynnJanuary 10, 2016 at 8:41 AM

    Wow. This gave me a bit of a chill, Sherry, and a lot to think about.

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  9. OutlawyerJanuary 10, 2016 at 1:54 PM

    This is just lovely, Sherry--agree with all the others. Too bad we don't listen more closely--when we can. Really beautifully done. k.

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  10. ✿January 10, 2016 at 2:27 PM

    I love this:
    "oars lifting and dipping,
    with the wave-tops' pitch and roll"

    And what a great ending!

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  11. Magaly GuerreroJanuary 10, 2016 at 7:22 PM

    You, my beloved Wild Woman, have a way to take something that terrifies almost everyone and make it desirable... even if not right away. ♥

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  12. UnknownJanuary 11, 2016 at 3:42 AM

    I love the peace that is infused in your poem. Death is a start of a new journey.

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  13. UnknownJanuary 11, 2016 at 5:12 AM

    Beautiful :)
    Loved reading it specially these lines: "oars lifting and dipping,
    with the wave-tops' pitch and roll. "

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  14. Nuwan SJanuary 11, 2016 at 6:58 AM

    amazing
    imagtalks.blogspot.com

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  15. kaykualaJanuary 11, 2016 at 3:37 PM

    One is mindful of the fact that when it comes it comes at any time.

    Hank

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  16. kaykualaJanuary 11, 2016 at 3:37 PM

    One is mindful of the fact that when it comes it comes at any time.

    Hank

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  17. Amrit SinhaJanuary 12, 2016 at 6:46 AM

    This is chilling, and has a haunting beauty associated with it ... loved it :-)

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  18. HannahJanuary 12, 2016 at 3:26 PM

    Oh wow...goosebumps, Sherry. I remember you telling me this story and your poetic rendition is stunning!! ♥

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  19. grapelingJanuary 15, 2016 at 8:27 PM

    somehow, in this generation, I wonder if our debts will be paid at all... ~

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