Sunday, March 17, 2013

Brooding

The nearest star still light years away
with nothing but empty space in sight
her stranded ship was cold and gray
succumbing to the endless night,
she'd never been one to piously pray
or fumble about in frivolous fright--
a faulty reactor had sealed her fate
so she sat down to calmly wait.

A captain will grieve a vessel's demise
surrendering their identity,
and a mother will mourn the child that dies,
a part of themselves that can never be,
but living is always a compromise
requiring strength to accept misery
by standing stalwart at the helm
as darkness tries to overwhelm.

When artificial gravity failed
she quietly floated like a cloud,
recycled air had long since staled
and with her final breath she vowed
to guard her nest as sleep prevailed,
she'd always been immensely proud
but it was truly more than that
a piece of herself was in the vat.

7 comments:

Mary said...

I enjoyed this poem greatly. These lines stood out for me:

living is always a compromise
requiring strength to accept misery
by standing stalwart at the helm
as darkness tries to overwhelm.


So very true. Difficult times are a part of life..we have to find our way through them somehow, as darkness tries to overwhelm us. And when the inevitable night comes, as it someday will, hopefully we will be ready, having lived a good life.

Nissa Annakindt said...

Interesting. I love science fiction. For me, it could do with a few concrete, vivid images. But that's just my opinion.

Brother Ollie said...

as a bit of a brooder - I related to this one rch.

How does one shake off the brooding?

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Such an interesting piece--I have read it several times and each time come back with something different out of it--enjoyed that so much!

Unknown said...

You address the balance that life naturally aims to create. We have the opportunity develop strength through challenge. We can shine our own lights to eradicate darkness. We are powerful forces for improvement and change, even in our blue moods.

rch said...

Thanks

Anonymous said...

I nearly typed an expletive! Awesomely done. Great rhymes (-whelm and helm, amazing), great scheme, and great emotion and story.