Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LONE TRAVELER, by DONALD J. PAQUETTE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LONE TRAVELER, by                    
First Line: Snake eating snake the darkness eats the light
Last Line: And this is death.
Subject(s): Death; Silence; Dead, The


Snake eating snake the darkness eats the light,
in single file the minutes march away,
shapes shrivel and shrink -- and stretch at last
to shadowy nothingness:
mystery smothers the staggering will,
and sound down the phantomed corridors
flees on pussy feet
pursued by satanic silence...

Silence -- and then
the last thought flickers like a frightened candle.
Sensation deserts the ravished hulk
like a solitary seaman -- leaving alone
the grey-bearded captain -- the soul
to steer his misty way
untouched -- inviolate...

Silence -- and the shoreless sea...
eyes close, heart ceases, blood freezes the last breath --
time snaps like a rubber band! --
and this is death.





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