My Final Requiem

To those who might inquire...
 

The a knitting and twining
------- preening and pining
The absolute labor of the dead

Is - subtle but helpful
---- supple but dreadful
And never quite written or read

"Now see!" says death and dead alike
"Now see!" says verse and rhyme

"That the labor is a labor of laborious love
And of no need to be written or read"

And so I ask of this spectre death
And boldly inquire of the dead

"I know that this labor is subtle but helpful
Of laborious love and supple but dreadful

"But what is this labor of which it is said
It can never quite be written or read?"

And so they spoke in verse and rhyme,
to bequeath enchantment line by line

"Mortal, see here that you listen quite clear
And give heedance to my words this time

"For your queer curiosity has led you wrong
And your mere morbiosity is completely in throng"

"But wait" I bade the curios shade
"I only endeavor to learn of the labor,
to know of its nature and end"

"Now see" said he "Now look" said that crook
"Leave to the dead the things of the dead
And forget that which is neither written nor read.
Take upon thyself the things of life instead.

"Listen quite closely my frivolous friend,
------- completely lend ear to my terrible lesson,
That you have no need to give any heed
------- to either its nature or end.

"You may yet, having learned my lesson,
Proquire yourself from this downward progression

"If you give up your morbid obsession
Your penance you might considerably lessen

"Subside from asking these queer questions
And remove thyself from morbid machinations

"Abide instead the words of your savior
And kindly forget the dead's quiet labor!"

And with a sigh that drew air in,
Letting it out I sadly began.

"But it draws nigh with each breath
So how can I forget this thing death?

"My mind is besought my heart besieged
I waste my thought if you are believed

"I will not take your bait
Whether given in hand or lain in plate

"Give me the knowledge I so wantingly seek
I bequeath thee spirit I command thee speak!"

"Now see" said death, "Now see" said the dead
The two wholly synchronized in both verse and rhyme

"The knowledge my friend is freely given
To those who have heard but not heeded my lesson."

And my flesh grew cold, the room did blacken,
And my soul was rolled to the depths of the Kracken

And now I sit

------- knitting and twining
------- preening and pining
And the manner is easily said

------- subtle but helpful
------- supple but dreadful
And never quite written or read.
 
 

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