Flat Line

Handed out piecemeal,
then it ends,
the steady thump, still,
the rising chest, flat
against a cold sheet.

Those that cue up
to the show, know
the curtain will
eventually fall
your aisle seat
going empty,
that ticket stub
tells of your visit
when first named:
nationality, color,
infractions stuffed
into long halls
of information.

Your world is closed
the sight and sound
of bluebirds, the ripple
of streams, crash of waves
is designated to oak
or furnace and gone
is the rain, snow, dry dust
of an abandoned corn field --
rainbows no longer arch,
the universe mocks your attempt
at longevity, despite medicine, doctors
machines providing breath,
it is the end of your world,
they sing, replayed in the photos
gathered in shoe boxes and if lucky
you’ve left praise with your name,
if a monster you’ve left hatred,
scorned on the front pages
or tucked away into obituaries
of meaningless announcements.

Stand online, inch forward with pride,
and accomplishment until the fall, the dark
ending all you knew.

Edward Rochester Esq.

On Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:44:21 AM UTC-4, Edward Rochester Esq. wrote:
> Flat Line
>
>
> Handed out piecemeal,
> then it ends,
> the steady thump, still,
> the rising chest, flat
> against a cold sheet.
>
> Those that cue up
> to the show, know
> the curtain will
> eventually fall
> your aisle seat
> going empty,
> that ticket stub
> tells of your visit
> when first named:
> nationality, color,
> infractions stuffed
> into long halls
> of information.
>
> Your world is closed
> the sight and sound
> of bluebirds, the ripple
> of streams, crash of waves
> is designated to oak
> or furnace and gone
> is the rain, snow, dry dust
> of an abandoned corn field --
> rainbows no longer arch,
> the universe mocks your attempt
> at longevity, despite medicine, doctors
> machines providing breath,
> it is the end of your world,
> they sing, replayed in the photos
> gathered in shoe boxes and if lucky
> you’ve left praise with your name,
> if a monster you’ve left hatred,
> scorned on the front pages
> or tucked away into obituaries
> of meaningless announcements.
>
> Stand online, inch forward with pride,
> and accomplishment until the fall, the dark
> ending all you knew.
>
> Edward Rochester Esq.
----------------------------------------------

On Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:48:23 AM UTC-4, Edward Rochester Esq. wrote:
> On Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:44:21 AM UTC-4, Edward Rochester Esq. wrote:
> > Flat Line
> >
> >
> > Handed out piecemeal,
> > then it ends,
> > the steady thump, still,
> > the rising chest, flat
> > against a cold sheet.
> >
> > Those that cue up
> > to the show, know
> > the curtain will
> > eventually fall
> > your aisle seat
> > going empty,
> > that ticket stub
> > tells of your visit
> > when first named:
> > nationality, color,
> > infractions stuffed
> > into long halls
> > of information.
> >
> > Your world is closed
> > the sight and sound
> > of bluebirds, the ripple
> > of streams, crash of waves
> > is designated to oak
> > or furnace and gone
> > is the rain, snow, dry dust
> > of an abandoned corn field --
> > rainbows no longer arch,
> > the universe mocks your attempt
> > at longevity, despite medicine, doctors
> > machines providing breath,
> > it is the end of your world,
> > they sing, replayed in the photos
> > gathered in shoe boxes and if lucky
> > you’ve left praise with your name,
> > if a monster you’ve left hatred,
> > scorned on the front pages
> > or tucked away into obituaries
> > of meaningless announcements.
> >
> > Stand online, inch forward with pride,
> > and accomplishment until the fall, the dark
> > ending all you knew.
> >
> > Edward Rochester Esq.
> ----------------------------------------------
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