OnlineBookClub.org

A poem inspired by The Book Thief, in Death's point of view.


For all the humans
by Emmers00

I would stop the wolf faced man,
I would stop the storm.
I would stop the gas that burns,
and settle all the scores.

I would pay the debts you owe,
fight the fights you “couldn’t lose”
I would come just before you were gone,
I’d come just for you.

I’d trip the boys on all front lines,
before they could all run,
I’d hide the powder, the bullets, that belong inside,
every single gun.
I’d drink the poison,
I’d drink the pain,
I’d drink up all the lost years,
I’d drink up all the misery behind all your silent tears.

I’d lean down to your soft shoulders,
shaking in the wind,
tousle your sweet tear stained hair,
I see where you’ve been.
I’d tell you not to run and hide,
they’ll love you
I know they do.
I’d help you sneak a book inside,
a coat.
One book…or two.

If I could do more than carry you,
when gas, or guns, or glass
strike you down.
I swear I’d kiss and save you dear,
but that is not allowed.

@Emmers00
Beautiful and full of emotion. I really like your poem

Fran wrote:@Emmers00
Beautiful and full of emotion. I really like your poem

Agree ... excellent poem.

Thank you!!

I was seriously choked up reading this. It's the kind of poem that anyone can relate too. Great imagery.

Fun poem, it reads (in my opinion) as if the narrator is a young man, too. I didnt feel the sadness that the other readers mentioned, but it was definitely heartfelt. I actually like it best without the last stanza, too!

This poem to me has many interesting aspects. I know that I will return to it several times without exhausting all that it suggests to me. Upon first reading I was taken by, first of all, by the litany of threats, to the human condition. The "wolf faced man....the storm...the gas that burns..." all afflictions and injustices, both psychological and physical that the last line of the first stanza proposes to banish. along with a settling of "... all the scores." The tone becomes ever more messianic in the second stanza with the vivid and evocative images of self sacrifice, yet the quasi-Christ of this piece says only "I would..." It is this "I would..." that reminds us of the limits empathy and self sacrifice cannot transcend. In my opinion, the poem might have lapsed into sentimentality if it were not for this somewhat wry point of view about the efficacy of daydreaming in the face of harsh realities as so aptly expressed in the last two lines.

Your poem flows beautifully. I felt the ending to be triumphant despite being tragic. Lovely.

I love reading your poem (I know I'll read it many times over). I felt a sense of seductiveness when reading it. As the reader, I felt reminded of all the ugly in the world we live, while being drawn to the possible peace and comfort of death. Death is a seducer.