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Array
(
[sid] => 61191
[catid] => 1
[aid] => mick
[title] => Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
[time] => 2004-08-23 23:36:52
[hometext] => Haven't done this in a long while, but I'm going to ask that you please, if you have a moment, read this one. Dedicated to Jon-Paul, a 13-yr old who would've been in my school this year, had he not died of cancer about a month ago. I never knew him.
[bodytext] => the hallways are a-buzz with talk of you
your name on everyone's lipglossed
(watermelon flavored) lips
we gossip, in too-loud whispers,
to cover up the fact that it's all
beyond comprehension--
you were so young, so innocent,
so just like the rest of us
and now you are gone
you are not supposed to be
you are not allowed to be
if you can die then so can we--
oh, you who were unfortunate enough
to embody all we never wished to think about,
will we ever forgive you
for reminding us of our mortality?
(the voices of the adults whisper,
he was so young
such a shame, so very sad
his poor parents)
and you are not supposed to be gone
(if you can, cannot we?)
and we spin you into stories
more gossip-fodder whispered
by watermelon wonderland lips
and pink-eyeshadowed eyes,
praying no one will notice the fear in them
we may never forgive you
for breaking our naive bubble
but please, will you forgive us
for turning your death into a story
a curiosity
so that we may hide from ourselves
--and punish you for--
the last gift of peace-shattering truth
that you left us?
[comments] => 10
[counter] => 230
[topic] => 39
[informant] => ShadowDaughter
[notes] =>
[ihome] => 0
[alanguage] => english
[acomm] => 0
[haspoll] => 0
[pollID] => 0
[score] => 30
[ratings] => 6
[editpoem] => 1
[associated] =>
[topicname] => Grief
)
Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
Contributed by
ShadowDaughter
on
Monday, 23rd August 2004 @ 11:36:52 PM in AEST
Topic:
Grief
|
the hallways are a-buzz with talk of you
your name on everyone's lipglossed
(watermelon flavored) lips
we gossip, in too-loud whispers,
to cover up the fact that it's all
beyond comprehension--
you were so young, so innocent,
so just like the rest of us
and now you are gone
you are not supposed to be
you are not allowed to be
if you can die then so can we--
oh, you who were unfortunate enough
to embody all we never wished to think about,
will we ever forgive you
for reminding us of our mortality?
(the voices of the adults whisper,
he was so young
such a shame, so very sad
his poor parents)
and you are not supposed to be gone
(if you can, cannot we?)
and we spin you into stories
more gossip-fodder whispered
by watermelon wonderland lips
and pink-eyeshadowed eyes,
praying no one will notice the fear in them
we may never forgive you
for breaking our naive bubble
but please, will you forgive us
for turning your death into a story
a curiosity
so that we may hide from ourselves
--and punish you for--
the last gift of peace-shattering truth
that you left us?
Copyright ©
ShadowDaughter
... [
2004-08-23 23:36:52]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by emystar on
Monday, 23rd August 2004 @ 11:43:24 PM AEST
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Well I'm so sorry to hear this but u have turned this person's death into a solid, touching write.
luv, huggs,
emy |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Tuesday, 24th August 2004 @ 12:14:44 AM AEST
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Nora, this is so moving. Death is very scary at a young age. Death is not so much scary as incomprehensible when you get older. Especially when it is a young person who never got to live a full life. It doesn't seem fair for that to happen. I don't think we ever come totally to grips with our own mortality until it is face to face with us or hits us very close to home. I am sorry you had to face this, but death is a fact of life.
Big hugs, honey,
Rita |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Tuesday, 24th August 2004 @ 05:36:30 AM AEST
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|
Death and dying does curious things to people who've never had to deal with it on a personal level. I know this wasn't someone you knew personally, but I can recall a similar effect upon my school when one kid was knocked down by a car and killed. Everyone was talking about it, and you captured the essence of the experience with a high level of understanding...
Well done.
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Daniela_Maria_Violin on
Tuesday, 24th August 2004 @ 08:36:02 AM AEST
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Very touching write, Nora.
Something like this happened when I was in school (a few years ago)... a 15 year old boy died of heart failure (he had a pacemaker that stopped functioning) but he never told anyone he had the heart condition so it was a shock to all of us.
Tthat being said...I can empathize with this... it's hard to deal with death at such a young age even if you've never met the person... I didn't meet Frank (that was his name) either but I will remember the day he died for as long as I live. It had such an effect on me.
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Kie on
Tuesday, 24th August 2004 @ 09:01:23 AM AEST
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a Message)
|
This really moved me.
Sadly death cares not for what age you are. When we are very young it is hard to imagine death in a real sense sometimes.
Your poem is strong with emotion and reality.
Very well done Nora.
Kie |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by MoonlitAngel on
Tuesday, 24th August 2004 @ 09:40:44 AM AEST
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|
That is so sad... just reminds me of when 4 really well known and well liked guys died in a car crash in my grade 12 year. It was the saddest and scariest thing I've ever seen in my life... what death does to those around it... no matter how it comes, death is scary. Oddly enough, there was just recently a car accident here and some of my coworkers knew the kids involved. It's so horrible. Such a sad poem, but it speaks so much truth. Great job, sweetie. *hugs*
~ Dee |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Silent-No-More on
Saturday, 28th August 2004 @ 10:32:32 AM AEST
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if you can die then so can we--
It took me a long time to comment here... The enormity of that one line and the powerful of this piece left me speechless for quite some time.
You're right dear Nora, the "oh my god"s, "I can't believe it"s and the "did you hear?"s are unconscious attempts, I think, to cover up the frightening reality that would come if it were quiet enough to hear one's inner thoughts. Honestly, I don't think death effects the young and old very different. The grown ups are, after all, busy laying words over thoughts as well.
Even in a world of daily violence and diseases that can't be cured, the "It won't happen to me" line is always infinitely longer than the other. Your title, this poem... perfectly captures that.
Needing a new volcabulary.... and thinking I've overused 'impressed' and 'amazed' when commenting on your work,
SNM
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by emospaztic on
Thursday, 16th September 2004 @ 02:58:23 PM AEST
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Honestly, Nora, I don't think you're ever going to understand how much I love this poem. Possibly one of the best ones I've ever read. Rockin'!
-emo. |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by Cynthia on
Sunday, 26th September 2004 @ 07:23:00 PM AEST
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a Message)
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| Nora, I am so sorry to hear about this. I hope you are better now since his passing. God bless my friend. *S* Cynthia |
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Re: Mortality (Behind the Lipgloss Murmurs)
(User Rating: 1 )
by skyblumoon on
Tuesday, 26th October 2004 @ 09:17:45 AM AEST
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a Message)
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Very sad, honest poem.
Blu |
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