Aftermath E-Book

Michael Roberts

• Herausgeber: Poets Choice
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

"Aftermath: Reflections on Near-life experiences," by Dr. Michael Roberts, is a collection of poetry that examines the divergence between one's goals, aspirations, hopes, and dreams and the reality of life. This collection examines the "what-if," "if only" and "what might have been" moments that people experience on their human journey. The book consists of unvarnished reminders that the life one has wished for and the life that was lived were sometimes disappointing or fell short of our expectations. The poems recount the quests for interpersonal connection, spiritual relationships, and quests for self-fulfillment that were left unsatisfied. The book was originally inspired by interactions with old friends at reunions or other gatherings, and the resignation with which they often tell their life's stories. The pictures of life we draw in elementary school and hang on the refrigerator may bear little resemblance to portrait that manifests our experiences in older age. Ultimately, the "aftermath" is a testimony to the resourcefulness and resilience of people to prevail over the unexpected and unintended.

Leseprobe

Aftermath

Reflections of Near-life Experiences

Collected Poems

By

Dr. Michael A. Roberts

All Rights Reserved

Published By

Poets Choice

www.poetschoice.in

First Edition April 2024

Book & Cover Designed By Laura Antonioli, England

Edited By Kaneez Zehra Razavi, India

ISBN: 978-81-970150-6-9

BCID: 750-17171618

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About this book:

To Cayce and Kathryn for bringing meaning into my life.

To Angela for bringing depth to it.

To Dan and Steven for the experiences of living.

To Mom and Bruce for being with me in spirit.

To all my unnamed friends who elevate me.

Exordium and Terminus

Poems

I. The Spectrum1

Aftermath2

In Silence3

Confined4

Dirty Mary5

Wardrobe6

Juliet7

Too Much8

Souvenirs9

Nostalgia10

Irregular11

Indulgences12

The Congregation13

The Flat14

Repose15

Devotional16

Outfits17

Social Media18

Mom and Mary19

The Church20

The Pirate22

Optimism23

The Sniper24

Empathy25

Over and Under26

11:1127

Whispers28

Magnum Opus29

II. Interconnectivity 31

Privation32

The Key33

We34

Tensity36

The Chair37

Purgatory38

Children First39

Fracture40

Puppy Love41

Clouds42

The Stare43

Snowflake44

Magic45

Sad Angel46

Letter to Mom47

Ditto48

Hearts49

Doors50

Castles51

Duty52

Like Yesterday53

Calling Kathryn54

Almost56

Profile57

Rest58

Empty Spaces59

Heartbeat60

Moonshine61

Us62

Clarksville63

III. Human Nature65

Rain66

Storm67

The Gathering68

Dusk69

Sandcastles70

Flowers71

Creeping Fall72

Spring and Fall73

The Moon74

Puddles75

Decisions76

Undercurrent77

IV. Acute Humanity79

Rapture80

Faust81

Fatherhood82

Remembered83

Refugees84

Gray Man85

Futility86

Fairytale87

Free Will88

Old Age89

Oriented90

Letter to Cayce91

A Minor Poet92

Bridges93

Far from God94

Reflection95

Answers96

Too Soon97

Guardian Angel98

Musing 99

Playback100

Restless101

The Dance102

Speculating103

WWJD104

Moments105

Alibi106

Confessions107

A Day in the Life108

A Little Insanity109

Consummated110

Michael Roberts

1

I.The Spectrum

Aftermath

2

Aftermath

Old age is the aftermath

Of a youth wasted

On expectation, excess, and excuses . . .

Our gray, wrinkled, and worn

Reflection is the consequence

Of the realization that the vow

To insert ourselves fully into

The potential of youth

Has been replaced by the prayer

Of holding onto as many breaths

As we can muster in the disappointment

Michael Roberts

3

In Silence

We can never be sure

If the silence between us

Means we keep things inside

Or keep things away . . .

If we have run out of things to say

Or if conversations are just in our heads . . .

If we are quietly focused on what’s to be

Or living only on memories of what has been . . .

Aftermath

4

Confined

I am closely examining

The small room

In which I find myself

Incarcerated,

Incommodious,

Not by authority,

Not for misconduct,

More of a sentence

For squandering a life

That proposed freedom

Every day

Michael Roberts

5

Dirty Mary

Dirty Mary stands

on the corner of the street,

Sign in hand,

syringes at her feet,

Doing dirty deeds,

wearing dirty clothes . . .

Something for her veins,

something for her nose . . .

Worshiping the god

She has to please,

Behind a dumpster,

or on her knees,

Doing anything

for the love she craves,

Holding a sign,

Saying “Jesus Saves”