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An honest eulogy?

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Colm Roe
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:45 am

An honest eulogy?

Post by Colm Roe » Fri Aug 30, 2019 8:07 pm

Death, like interviews after a football match
is a marsh of cliche and simile. 
I scream silent in protest, yet when forced
drivel with the best of them,
'Wasn't it a kindness in the end,
but wasn't he as brave as a lion'

When I go, tell me as I was,
my wife knows.
Some meagre comfort on the funeral day
might be appreciated. 
The biggest sin was always dishonesty 
she hates lies, mine were always white
or whiteish.
 
I have eulogised others,
embellished them far beyond their worth
in vast swathes of whitewash,
and if I'm lucky enough to live longer
than all the other bastards I know
I'll sharpen the pen, and
from the pulpit
before God
I'll tell the truth.

For my children's sake
I hope I die before my wife! 
 

ajduclos
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Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:35 pm

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by ajduclos » Mon Sep 02, 2019 2:46 pm

Colm - well spoken, well written.  Maybe one of those "bastards" will get the chance to eulogize you, honestly... 

Aj

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Colm Roe
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:45 am

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by Colm Roe » Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:10 pm

Aj, I did say 'if I'm lucky enough to live longer than them'  8-)
Thanks for the like  :)
 

poet-e
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Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:10 pm

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by poet-e » Tue Sep 03, 2019 5:15 pm

Love the opening: 
"Death, like interviews after a football match
is a marsh of cliche and simile."

Perhaps add lines from interviews after a football match?

Also like whiteish/whitewash images/words.

Poem turns in 3rd stanza:
I have eulogised others,
embellished them far beyond their worth
in vast swathes of whitewash,
and if I'm lucky enough to live longer
than all the other bastards I know
I'll sharpen the pen, and
from the pulpit
before God
I'll tell the truth.
So I'm understanding it as the speaker used to give whitewashed eulogies, but now wants to or will give honest ones.  But why this change?

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Colm Roe
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:45 am

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by Colm Roe » Tue Sep 03, 2019 7:24 pm

Hi poet-e  :)
The catalyst for this was my wife's obsession for honesty and the boredom of attending so many funerals with generic eulogies. From what I hear we are surrounded by saints  :roll:
One of my close friends is itching to eulogise me. I know he 'likes' my wife, won't tell me what he'd say, but I have my suspicions  :lol:
You might have noticed I do tend to write about death, so much so that I often start with a 'nice' line...then it all falls into a grave  :lol:
Thanks for the read  :)    
 

poet-e
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Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:10 pm

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by poet-e » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:15 pm

You can have a pre-death wake, or fake your death....  ;)

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Colm Roe
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:45 am

Re: An honest eulogy?

Post by Colm Roe » Wed Sep 04, 2019 3:19 am

:lol:

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