Not Yet….Perhaps… How Then?

Doggerel Dave


Notice of absence from Doggerel Dave
Not absent - still here!
Keep Calm and Carry On Poeming. 😂

Owing to my long somewhat chequered life

There have been escapes from serious strife,

Escape from death or severe injury

And how I’ve avoided a mystery.

Survival, though, leads to contemplation

Not for the first time, of my extinction.

So will it be fast or will it be slow?

Something which if possible, I should know.

 

I hope to go gentle - mentioned before

As this is something I cannot ignore.

Now to achieve this if my end is slow

And too painful – I expect you know

That to die with dignity is my claim,

One I’ve advocated time and again.

Now please wake up, those who may be unsure

This is for me – you be free to deplore –

Just keep YOUR morality out of MY end.

  • Author: Doggerel Dave (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: June 4th, 2021 06:04
  • Comment from author about the poem: This topic was one I explored in a school essay in 1959. Set by a teacher with deep beliefs ordered by that Old Time Religion. My position then was precisely as I have now, with the added ‘benefit ‘ accrued by the observation of other’s departure. “mentioned before”? See my “Finale” if you feel so inclined.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 59
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Comments +

Comments9

  • Jerry Reynolds

    Thought-provoking, Dave.

    • Doggerel Dave

      Thanks Jerry - sole purpose of the exercise.

    • orchidee

      There is no Limbo, don't ya know. A recent Pope abolished it! As if it depended on him?
      Not that I believed in it in the first place anyway. I'm not R.C. either, so what I am doing poping (Pope-ing) around?

      • Doggerel Dave

        I'm definitely not qualified to advise you, orchi. I've never quite got my head round your antipathy to church, the institution and your hymns. But as with my rejection of anyone interfering with my choice here, I should not be critical of your choices either.
        Thanks for calling in.

        • orchidee

          It's only some certain things that upset me within the church set-up. I'm not 'anti' it.

        • Neville


          I seriously respect your right to choose whether to adopt a particular set of religious beliefs or not ... I believe it is a fundamental right .. I was raised in a non practicing Church of England household ... my wife's father was a very respected hospital chaplain .. yet I have followed a Buddhist way since my late teens ...

          ps .. I think you have now left everyone in the picture .. 🙂

          • Doggerel Dave

            In this instance I am not being critical of other's religious beliefs, but the tendency to impose them on me by influencing legislation which inhibits my rights.

            Your PS: Message received loud and clear. Think you are right - No one wants to be inflicted with downers too often. I won't flog it to death. 😊 Never mind - I've got other annoying stuff up my sleeve...

            My P.S: what's with all these little squares which seem to be spreading like a ....?

          • Andy Hunter

            • Doggerel Dave

              Thanks Andy for your penetrating critique. Don't hesitate to call again when you have something you urgently need to communicate. 😊

              • Andy Hunter

                Ha Ha 😂

                • Doggerel Dave

                • Saxon Crow

                  Like it Dave. Totally agree with you on yhis one. My life, my choice

                  • Doggerel Dave

                    Great, Saxon - ' My life, my choice', I tried to find a place for, but couldn't fit it in. You have done it for me: Many thanks again.

                    • Saxon Crow

                      One aims to please dontcha know!

                    • Goldfinch60

                      We each have our own personal views on our own lives and we wish to go through them in a ways that we alone desire. Very good words Dave, may that dignity ALWAYS be with you.

                      Andy

                      • Doggerel Dave

                        Cheers Andy - your usual tolerant position. Sometimes I wish I could be as open to all difference as that.

                      • Andy Hunter

                        Dave, was attempting to comment when my phone froze so sent blank screen. All I can say is your poem reflects my own thoughts. Nicely expressed.

                      • SureshG

                        I don’t want anyone to have to say of the departed “they are not suffering any more” for as you have so emotionally claimed “ to die with dignity” must be the end game.

                        • Doggerel Dave

                          Thanks very much, Mohan. And the suffering can be protracted and intense. Happy with all the support for this cause. Although where I am, support for reform is very high within the general population, it is politicians who are moving at snail's pace.

                        • sorenbarrett

                          When young I thought I had the answers to this religious thing, then that changed, then changed and now changed again. In the changes I don't know anything so how could I tell anyone else what is right or wrong. We all evolve let each go at their own speed in their own direction.

                          • Doggerel Dave

                            Yes - but are everyone allowed to? Where I live, after years of campaigning voluntary assisted dying has only recently (very recently) been legislated into law. And it will be a slow process before it becomes an easy simple process uncurtailed by all manner of legal hoops and obstacles.....

                            • sorenbarrett

                              Yes a difficult question. I am all in favor of individual choice, even in death but it is a thorny question with the issue of whether the person is mentally capable of making the choice, many attempted suicides later say that at the last moment they changed their mind too late to stop the fall from a bridge and are glad that they didn't die. Also what impact does your death have on others, family, friends etc. is this well thought out before? Yet if I was faced with intractable pain and imminent death I would want the choice.

                              • Doggerel Dave

                                Last sentence - precisely.



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