And what will they say of you?

Question

Without a trace?

Grandfather, the clock, lone sentinel,

stands in hallway; has always stood there.

Never sleeping, rhythmically calling

keeping time, measured time, tolling.

11 bells chime, stately, elegantly, slowly

as if announcing the midnight hour nears.

I wonder… did my grandfather hear that sound,

the pending doom, the finality coming chime?

Did my father also hear… hear that sound?

For I hear it now, I hear it now and I shudder.

Finality… chiming, calling, coming

it’s calling me, chiming its rhythmic knell.

I now feel this rush, this rush to complete.

To finish ends, to wrap with a bow.

To put a stamp on, and send… send somewhere.

So when I leave, it will be… with a trace.

Does the fear of anonymity drive us on

in our final hour, to leave something?

Or are we covering for all our failures?

Trying to do the right thing at the right time,

finally?

Answer 1

"Hi!",

Your on Earlie today!

"Beautiful poem!"

I think we all leave a trace of our existence wither we want to or not. But I think some people would come all righteous in their final hour if they feel and know they are going to travel over the railway crossing.

WELL DONE!

Cheers : )

Answer 2

I consider language as a form of music, and I consider music as a form of language;  I heard that sound.

Answer 3

Amazing, where thou mind does carry you! to see beyond the

song, This poem touches me deeply, and brings me back to

eight grade grammar school, of memorial songs sang.

Bravo!     (But it stopped short never to go again when the old

man died)

Answer 4

Isn't that what we all want, to leave with a trace?  Wonderfully eloquent and thoughtful meditation,  "Teach us, therefore, to count our hours"

Answer 5

Neonman I hope you are saving all your poetry to be passed on to the next generation.When we are young we are so busy living our lives that we don't have a lot of time to think of the end.But as we get there, sooner than we want, it does occupy some of our thoughts.Money and wealth are not the important things to leave behind, but a legacy of how to treat your fellow man, a kindness, an understanding,a sense of humour about yourself.Also talents that you may have been so fortunate to possess.Your children may not have the same talents, but I guarantee they will cherish yours for generations to come.Keep writing my friend.

Answer 6

I like what you did here. It's a thought provoking piece.

Thanks for sharing it. I loved the sense of mortality evoked.

Answer 7

I think most people "do" want to leave something when they die.  One of the most popular reasons for having children and working to gain the respect of others.  

Very ggod-I could hear the clock!

Answer 8

Wow...what a fabulous poem.  It has a truth about it as well as an eerie Poe-like quality to it.  It gave me the shivers.  I never really thought about how you can hear time tic-tock away as you listen to a clock.  Each tic-tock closer to the end.  I'm all goose bumpy.

Answer 9

I do not fear no matter how near

my final hour.

I will leave this place with a trace

four; I have planted flowers.

(Plus it'll take 'em weeks to box up all my books, and forever to go through all my journals.)

Killer poem--a bit timeless though.

Answer 10

I believe we want to right the wrongs.  And depart, leaving a loving heart to carry on without us.  I like your poem.

Answer 11

I would say yes to the fear of anonymity driving us on, as time rushes by, it would be nice to leave a favorable legacy, a trace of our existence in good name!  Very enjoyable poetry !! Cheers !!

Answer 12

EXCELLENT Neonman!

What I loved about this poem was how the sound of a clock brought on the thought of his Grandfather and then....

The contemplation of the clock(time) & his grandfather's(existence) provoked the thought of his existence, his worth, his trace, "his time in this world."

This poem is so good that I am getting a quiver in my stomach. lol

I mean I guess, I feel so tied to this piece because that is the sequence, the trance that my mind follows.

I go from one thought to another in deep contemplation, and I think about similar things, as in the topic expressed in this poem.

--------------------------------------...

And the answer to your question, I do not fear anonymity because I am known in my community, by my friends, and by family, particurly my children.

I do cover my failures, lol but I keep a journal/poem book, so my failures will be uncovered someday.

I am always trying to do the right thing but as a human, how right can I be?

Yes FINALLY?

THE END OF MY ANSWER!!! LOL

Answer 13

The mood you create and it's completeness are two things I love most about your poems. There is a path to walk on and think from where you begin and where you end. Great work Neon...great work.

And do you know one thing? There is a great anthology called 'The Oxford Book of English Verse. It covers english poetry from some 1300-1900. In the first fifty-sixty pages of that book, you will come across numerous wonderful ballads and songs under which it is written "Anonymous". The voices are there, mellifluous and soft but the authors are unknown. They have left behind something great, but yet...but yet! Those poems make me weep...why this magician called TIME has done such injustice to those great singers? In the quarter of a second, Time could have cared to preserve their names too. If it could preserve a ballad of 200 words, why didn't a name of two words?

Answer 14

I'm leaving laughter, humor and love...and a massive amount of papers and books on genealogy. The latter ought to keep my sons occupied for many years...thus I won't be forgotten soon!

Believe that we all imbue our best qualities in our children.

Remember all..."Don't do as I do, do as I say".  Revise that little bit. I see some of my best (I do have 'em) traits reflected in my sons.

Answer 15

This hit chillingly close to home for me. It is one of your best ever. But it has changed my mind about something. I used to like bestowing clocks or watches as gifts, thinking that there is no present like the time. Now I'm not so sure.

Answer 16

I love this. Really makes you think....

I believe we all leave a bit of something behind. I for one try to live my life in such a way that what is left behind will be positive.