Fits tune: Ravenshaw
(Lord, thy word abideth')
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A kind of hymn-poem in memory of CB,
from a school event in June 1968
*******
Lord, now in memory
Of that day years ago, see
Encounter with death, children
Senses numbed, grieving then
When in swimming session
Children did their lesson
One must have swum in back-stroke
Sadly water did choke
For arm stuck in pipe pool
Did emergency help call
To do all they could to free
C.B. from distress, see
He sadly departed
Though none could have started
To do more, so now to mourn
Like for lamb new-born shorn
For in school primary
Of age ten class, weep did we
Yet comforts in assembly
Bird-bath in memory
A good swimmer taken
Gone, but not forsaken
Atmosphere of meek and mild
For the loss of a child
People not die at [age] ten?
Age when life still blossoms then
Rest in peace, friend, swim now strong
Through eternal days long
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Author:
orchidee (
Offline) - Published: June 19th, 2017 08:35
- Comment from author about the poem: A sad poem today. My first experience of a person's death at age ten. Fits to 66 66 metre. In memory of a real event. The 'hymn-poem' explains it. I trust the last verse is not whimsical. The line 'People not die at age ten'? is sort of incredulous. Why, I only chatted to that same friend the other day, before this event. I recall the class not over-mourning, but rather being numbed. A memorial bird-bath is still in the school playground.
- Category: Sad
- Views: 58
Offline)
Comments5
I know it's not a 'hymn' as such, though could be used for some memorial occasion maybe? I've only written this now, in 2017, though the event was in 1968. Just didn't get round' to setting it to poetry.
That is very moving. The words flow with loss when also being literal. Thank you.
This is so lovely, very moving
Very good and moving write Orchi. There is nothing so sad as young children losing their lives in any way.
Thanks all.
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