Sunday, April 19, 2009

NaPoWriMo #19

One Single Impression: One Word

Simply Hi
By Edward S. Gault

The minister finished
With the customary ashes to ashes.
His family and two friends gathered around
The coffin, as it was lowered into the ground.
His friends remembered how dejected
He was the last time they had seen him.
They remembered the intercom announcement
By the principal that he had died.
And how he died.
Oh God, how he died!
And alone.
Most were asking who he was.
They didn’t even know him.
Now, as dirt was being shoveled in,
The two that did, wondered why,
Maybe- just once!-more people
Couldn’t have said just one word to him
Simply, Hi.

Walking along path,
Burdened with troubles-He came!
-spoke just one word, Peace.

Copyright©2009
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11 comments:

  1. Amias (ljm and liquidplastic)April 19, 2009 at 8:13 AM

    Hi Edward. This is most appropriate. Thought provoking indeed.

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  2. JeevesApril 19, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Very profound

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  3. MaggieApril 19, 2009 at 11:05 AM

    Sometimes a person aches for just one caring word.

    ...many times they are too few and far in between to a lonely person.

    I enjoyed this poem.

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  4. Deborah GodinApril 19, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    How easy it can be to forget all the kindnesses we have in our power to give.

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  5. anthonynorthApril 19, 2009 at 12:44 PM

    An important message about community - and finished off with a flourish.

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  6. Geraldine April 19, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    Oh this is so sad but so true too. Well done Edward. This hits close to home for me...

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  7. qualcosa di belloApril 19, 2009 at 8:52 PM

    your words remind me of how i need to be...to see everyone as someone

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  8. SandyCarlsonApril 19, 2009 at 9:21 PM

    I think we all crave that one word that carries kindness and a sense of connection.

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  9. Tumblewords:April 20, 2009 at 8:59 PM

    Excellent piece on a sad part of today's hurried 'me' life.

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  10. gabrielleApril 21, 2009 at 12:17 AM

    the simplest kindness can tip the world on its axis. you never know. Hi. I see you.
    powerful story.

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  11. spacedlawApril 21, 2009 at 9:49 AM

    The axis of the world on a single word.
    Very strong.

    ReplyDelete