Portrait of His Funeral (reviews please?)

by lilchoma

Published December 22, 2009

a soft slice of a shovel piercing the earth,
and the hollow thud as it falls
mercilessly
onto the colorless, joyless wooden box.
.
the wind, strong and capricious,
wrapping coats tighter
across shoulders,
throwing every color and length of hair
like willow leaves,
weeping sans tears.
.
unseen clouds, for all that care,
shade a cold world in an instant,
the next breaking, radiating
light and heat,
swimming through the cemetery,
and back beneath the clouds once again.
.
past the hum of the wind,
the soft monotony of human voice,
mumbling some symphony
of incoherent words, spilling sad farewells.
.
the final whisper of metal in earth
beckons the gathered
for one last longing glance,
ending with a listless turn away,
the silent sound of dress shoes
.
treading upon the vibrant, living grass,
plodding amongst the stone and marble
monuments of the dead.

Comments & reviews · 4
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Sabine
Review
Sabine wrote a review Review · Dec 29, 2009

absolutely gorgeous! concise and dreamy and melancholy. I especially liked this bit:
"ending with a listless turn away,
the silent sound of dress shoes
.
treading upon the vibrant, living grass,"

I really liked the touch of adding the specificity of 'dress shoes' for some reason. I think I might have one minor critique about this bit:

"throwing every color and length of hair
like willow leaves,"

I might have just left it as 'every length of hair' as this way feels a little too defined. But at the same time it's a really lovely simile.
Also, with the first line I really could hear that soft, damp earthly slice of the shovel.
I suppose, to sum up, it's all the sensory details that make this poem, clear without being over-wordy or too pointed. very nice job!

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iceprincess
Review
iceprincess wrote a review Review · Dec 27, 2009

For some reason, the poem is quite...apathetic? dull? I don't know, to be honest with you. It's like I'm seeing the scenes that you wrote though a murky looking-glass, and I just can't see it clearly.

Overall, your poem is quite good! Keep it up! :D

-Rosie =]

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R3b3L
Comment
R3b3L commented Comment · Dec 27, 2009

Your imagery is great.

I like your ending; I understand what you were saying.

I don't know why but this poem just feels kind of dull to me, but it's still good...

3/5

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EL FINITO
Comment
EL FINITO commented Comment · Dec 22, 2009

I enjoyed your poem the use of words were beautiful. But your last two stanza were confusing make it clear.



In the past I would definitely say who you would find inside. Not so much today. Place is bonkers …. As is everywhere
— Greg Specter