Laugh, sing, howl, or cry… Man, it’s all the same…
Fate ‘be fulfilled… we are all candidates
For the same doom… that’s the rule of the game.
The end will come… with open arms death waits…
So laugh, sing, there’s time yet to howl and cry,
When the bony hand will reach out for you
And without you’d be able to ask “Why?”
Will write on your forehead with claws: “Adieu!”
Forgetting all… laugh and sing. Enjoy life!
Forget the scythe… forget the bony hand…
Don’t think of death… and don’t think about strife…
Or pain, sorrow… or how it all will end…
Look up at the sky… see how clear, how blue…
Sun shines upon your face and the birds sing
And on the flowers like pearl drops hang the dew;
Around you the calm is all embracing.
Just enjoy this silly life while you can,
Chase away thoughts of suffering and pain,
Forget about the skull with the deadpan
Look, that surfaces again and again…
…You’d forget it if you could, but you can’t…
Life’s pointless struggles are on your mind
And all the sufferings that disenchant
And turns life into endless cruel grind.
Matters not if you laugh, sing, howl, or cry.
Fate will be fulfilled… life’s an ugly game…
No matter what, at the end you will die…
To the Grim Reaper it is all the same…
© P. J. Oszmann (2004 Developed from one of my earlier poems of the same title written in Hungarian in 1950, reflecting the gloom and doom of the “Stalin” era. This is a loose transliteration.)
© Illustration created in Photoshop.(2004)
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Putting into today's times
I love the advice in the beginning this is a wonderful poem. If only the grim reeper would wait till life is done here.
Wonderful poem and hope that inbetween the grim reepers days you are able to find Peace and Happiness and Relaxing Fun.
Take care of Peter.
You and your family always deeply in my thoughts. I truly wish I was in England.
42xoox(c :)
Tracey
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in America, Karen Lynn in Texas. :(
Prayers to you and your family!!
It is always a privileged moment to read the masterful work of Your Sublime Grace, Poet Peter J. Oszmann.
"Memento Mori" depicts the ontologic-teleological destiny of the flesh-MAN, and prods the wings of imagination to fly over the spiritual clouds of the eternal Soul.
Thank You for adding value to The Major Art.
In reverent admiration,
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Well that does it. Off goes the computer and I'm off to enjoy this silly life while I can!
Cynthia
Death does not discriminate; it strikes all, young, old, rich, poor. No one is immune.
Great, thought provoking write--hope all is well with you and yours.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.