My Life Flashed Before Me

by Mark Rawlins   Jun 13, 2014


Incubator, mother's breast.
dressing up box, old string vest....
My life flashed before me.

Angry teacher, bully's bait,
adorable creature, our first date ....
My life flashed before me.

Nights of passion, love's first kiss.
Follow the fashion, a late night piss ...
My life flashed before me.

Rites of passage, funerals and weddings.
Rites of passage to Leeds and Reading ...
My life flashed before me.

Music, parties, poetry, art,
going out dressed up smart.
'Good friends we had, good friends we lost' ....
My life flashed before me.

Becoming a dad, laughing, crying,
feeling bad, fighting, lying ...
My life flashed before me.

Everything I've ever known,
everything I've ever seen,
everything I've ever cared for,
everything I've ever been ...

My life flashed before me
as I gasped one last breathe,
My life flashed before, me as I waited for death .....

And then .....

No angels were singing, no bells were ringing,
No Elvis, no Ghandi, no virgins with candy,
No Kings Cross station, no reincarnation,
No loved ones, no mates, and no pearly gates,
No tunnel, no light,
No Jesus? No shite!

My life flashed before me, my gullible friend,
My life flashed before me ....
and that was ... the end!

2


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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Baby Rainbow

    What an awesome poem... I can't believe the flow and the beat to the poem, it is so enjoyable to read. It is a poem that you don't want to be over. I love the reflection scenes how you keep them short and chippy with only a few selectee words, and yet manage to create a deep impact. You list the good and bad things that come to your mind, and you also have a slight hint of a sarcastic/humorous tone to the poem.
    I like the layout, and the repetition, worked really well in this case.
    I also think you ended the poem really well, building a suspense on waiting on death, and then twisting it into being alive in the end. Even if the tone is still lingering with sadness and emptiness.

    Very clever poem. I enjoyed.

  • 10 years ago

    by Darren

    Judges comments

    This is a clever repetitive poem that I could imagine being pacey enough and witty enough, to hold a teenagers attention. A great start that had me marvelling at how such a small stanza with a few very well chosen words could be so imaginative, you picture the scene from the off and follow the journey with every stanza. I love the change in tone and pace after 'and then'. A clever write and worthy of 7 points.

  • 10 years ago

    by mazzy star

    Amazing.
    I wish I could nominate it for the weekly contest.

  • 10 years ago

    by Amberinaa

    Each verse made me want more, brilliant! I loved it, such a great read! xo