"I Forgot to Tell You"

Day 9 of 30: Global Poetry Writing Month and National Poetry Writing Month

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Today’s NaPoWriMo challenge is to write a poem that includes a line that you’re afraid to write; something that you’re genuinely a little scared to say.

This is by far my favorite prompt, and certainly the juiciest.

I could write a poem a day for a year.... for a decade.... on this prompt alone.

 

  

"Even at the time that the pebbles are being counted out, be not frightened, nor terrified; tell no lies."  

- The Tibetan Book of the Dead

 

 

"I Forgot to Tell You"

 

I am dying.

I say

 

Why did you wait so long to tell us?

they say

 

Isn’t there something more you can do?

they say

  

There isn’t anything more that can be done.

I say 

 

I am dying.

You are dying

We are all dying.

 

Each morning we wake, one more day

Marching toward

The end

 

 

I am dying

I say

 

I waited this long to tell you because

You already knew.

I say

 

 

Sometimes

You just forget.

 

 

© Kat Shamash, April 9, 2016

Comments

[Taidgh]

I really enjoyed this poem. Thanks for sharing.

[Bryan Ens]

Wow! This is fabulous! What a reminder of our mortality!

[Oloriel]

Very raw and touching poem, thank you very much for sharing it!

[Ginni Deville]

Wow, powerful poetry - and you know what, I did forget ;)

[Ching]

We forget we're dying because we're so busy living.

[Kat Shamash]

"We forget we're dying because we're so busy living" -- so true, Ching!