Just where, oh where has my true love gone
Will she come back singing a sweet song
Will we hug and dance in the forest deep
Or will she just curl up with me to sleep?
To wake and look at me with eyes of green
Telling me of the things she has seen
As she holds me close and breathes in my face
We kiss and rest in loves sweet embrace
But when I wake I am cold as stone
To find she has now left me all alone
But there is a note written in her hand
"My love, you'll find me in some other land"
Must I search for her taking Charon's boat?
As the wind whistles a mournful note
To find her in some Arcadian bliss
To greet me in sylvan glade with a kiss
Image found at www.pixabay.com
I woke with a start.
Was that a bump?
It was pitch dark.
Who is that there?
Had to check up.
Put my robe on.
Quiet down the stair.
Open the back door.
Hair stands on end.
Am grabbed from behind.
What is going on?
Whisked off my feet.
Can't even call out.
Put into a boat.
And Charon he says:
"Coin in my hand."
Then opens my mouth.
I panic and squirm.
A tooth he extracts.
My gold capped one.
He examines it well.
So loosens his grip.
I'm over the side.
In the River Styx.
The river of death.
Swim to the shore.
Run back home fast.
In through the door.
Climb up the stairs.
Get into my bed.
Am asleep in a sec.
Dead to the world!
Wake soaked in sweat.
That wasn't a dream.
I have cheated death.
Just for a bit!
(Image by Cecil Keating for Penguin Classics "Satirical Sketches" by Lucian. 1961)
This poem now slightly amended was one of first I ever wrote back almost exactly 10 years ago to the day in 2009. The prompt fitted in nicely so thank you Sanaa.
Apparently the custom then was to have a silver coin placed in the mouth prior to burial
