The Fat Lady's Not Singing Yet

The Fat Lady’s Not Singing Yet

it’s so easy to lose

our curiosity in life

as daylight wanes and day’s end nears

we’re prone to entertain

a sense of pointlessness -

feel "its all over for me" as sunset looms

but there is so much more out there

for you and me to see - set free,

we can find and feel and fill our hearts

with love and longing - prescient lust

for things and ones we love

we’ll live and breathe - we’ll not be dust

‘til we have breathed our final breath

no victory dance for He named Death

‘til spewed each seed we’ve kept in store

and when we’ve lived ‘til there’s no more

then worms can wine and dine and have their fill

on what little we leave behind

our life is now - not what awaits

we'll not knock now on Pearly Gates

we must love it all - this life we own

drink to the dregs of all we’ve known

enthuse – enthrall - embrace it all

til when we leave here, walking tall

we’ll clear our plate and lick it clean

eyes open wide

to our last moment seen

Comments: 35

LK W. Aug 10, 2011, 12:19pm UTC

Perfect! Written with so much meaning and truth for all.

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 1:07pm UTC

Lovely comment...thank you so much...

LK W. Aug 10, 2011, 6:36pm UTC

You are very welcome :-)

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Barbara H. Aug 10, 2011, 12:54pm UTC

What LK W said I can not better PERFECT!!!

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 1:08pm UTC

Thank you for reading and commenting, dear Barbara... Thank you for everything...

LK W. Aug 10, 2011, 6:38pm UTC

How sweet Barbara . . . Thank you!

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Ann Marcaida Aug 10, 2011, 12:54pm UTC

Great writing as usual. One small part doesn't work for me-- the metaphor as night for the end of life. It seems like it should work-- perhaps you just need to describe it in terms of darkness growing instead of daylight waning?

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best Writers and Artists. Now featured.

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 1:06pm UTC

One has to see sunset as the edge of night...not night itself...day dies with a burning blaze of beauty at the edge of what lies ahead, which is the night...that was my thought...I really never mention the night...

As always, I do value your input...
Thank you for the feature...

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Priya P. Aug 10, 2011, 1:10pm UTC

Quite the inspirational poet today Stephen. Your words ring true and leaves me with a sence of optimism.

Thanks for sharing with the Triple Name Club.

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 2:02pm UTC

Thanks, Priya.

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JOHN BECK Aug 10, 2011, 4:33pm UTC

Or, as Yogi Berra is credited with having coined, "It isn't over 'til it's over." And it isn't over yet! Good one, Stephen.

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 6:10pm UTC

Thank you John...Yogi Berra had a lot of unique sayings...it's hilarious to read them in a book that's out there

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marie Pinschmidt Aug 10, 2011, 5:08pm UTC

Excellent - one of your best.

stephen berwaldt Aug 10, 2011, 6:11pm UTC

Many thanks, Marie...

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Alison H. Aug 10, 2011, 10:14pm UTC

Life, the glorious adventure! So beautifully expressed, Stephen.

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 5:57pm UTC

Thank you for your praise, Alison

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Bernard C. Aug 11, 2011, 3:49am UTC

Nicely written - thanks for sharing :-)

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 5:59pm UTC

Thank you so much, Bernard. Welcome back!

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Robert - just a simple man - B. Aug 11, 2011, 12:42pm UTC

An anthem for Humankind.
I love it.
God probably does too.

Thanks Stephen

Robert - just a simple man - B. Aug 11, 2011, 12:44pm UTC

The Fat Lady is still waiting for the tolling of Hemingway's bell.

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 6:00pm UTC

Thank you, my friend, for your comments. I appreciate them and your time making them.

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ben Surbana Aug 11, 2011, 3:54pm UTC

She continually sings. Yet many still do not hear Her.

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 6:02pm UTC

Thank you, Ben. This wasn't meant to be a spiritual piece, but there is a spiritual concern about not missing salvation as well. Whatever it is we want to find in life, best get to it while we're living!

Granny Janny Aug 11, 2011, 6:21pm UTC

Here here, my dear, may your poetry be read forever and a year
For such words do spread both hope and good cheer

ben Surbana Aug 11, 2011, 7:16pm UTC

Stephen, thank you for your kind words. There is no good poem that cannot be elevated to the top!

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 8:28pm UTC

hank you...the beauty about poetry is that it has different meaning to everyone who reads it... one may take it literally, or as a metaphor and apply it to their own will and whim...I'm glad you found something in my words to feed your soul...we all need that...there's nothing more ugly than an emaciated soul...
I appreciate your input...

stephen berwaldt Aug 11, 2011, 8:29pm UTC

Thank you, Jan, for reading... Such a lovely comment should not go unheralded... I appreciate it all...

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elizabeth evans Aug 12, 2011, 9:29pm UTC

I'm with you, boy. Too much to savor before midnight.

stephen berwaldt Aug 12, 2011, 9:40pm UTC

I love it when you call me "boy"... :) I'm probably not to far behind you, you know... 56 this year...like my wife's uncle used to say to me..."there's still plenty of boy in the man yet!" He may be right.
Get at it, girl...time is a'wasting! :)

elizabeth evans Aug 13, 2011, 6:55pm UTC

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bau m. Aug 13, 2011, 1:24pm UTC

Loved it!

Life's to be lived, so never be afraid to keep dreaming bigger dreams!

stephen berwaldt Aug 13, 2011, 6:00pm UTC

Want me to dream bigger? I can do that!

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The Fat Lady's Not Singing Yet

8 people recommend this post

Comments: 35

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