Ferryman

[Snowbells]

Death has been too much maligned;
to tell the truth, him I do not fear,
but the human hand that can
and will take sweet life from me
makes me glance to side and rear

Once I saw Charon, the Ferryman
who stared at me through hollow
eyes. Wet jungle soil absorbed the faint
thud that a dud grenade would make

He spoke to me through stained
and broken teeth: “Go on, soldier,
I’ll spare your life this once, but we
shall meet again, most certainly.”

Now aches and other maladies set in,
and I know those are the harbingers
of that friend who is to come.

[rowens]

Some of the old way of talking that comes in here, and some of the no ways that anyone ever talked, have a way of working with the shadows of this Charon, Ferryman of Styx, subject, that appears to you instead of Death. The first line sounds painfully obvious, if it's never been said before, it should have been. Now, do you mean he faint thud, or the faint thud? After clearing that up, I might have more to say. But, anyway, it's worth having this post bumped.

[Snowbells]

Thanks , Rowens;
yes, it is "the" and thanks for noticing the typo. Corrected it. Since I'd posted it, I've come to think of it as a "nothing" poem that I shouldn't have posted. Somehow, the lines are too obvious and hold no mystery. I really appreciate your read. Thanks.
Jerry

Some of the old way of talking that comes in here, and some of the no ways that anyone ever talked, have a way of working with the shadows of this Charon, Ferryman of Styx, subject, that appears to you instead of Death. The first line sounds painfully obvious, if it's never been said before, it should have been. Now, do you mean he faint thud, or the faint thud? After clearing that up, I might have more to say. But, anyway, it's worth having this post bumped.

[rowens]

On the contrary, I think it can be made into something. Might already be something, a little. But I'm kind of lazy at the moment. It's worth others reading; and me reading again, later.

[Snowbells]

Thanks again, Rowens;
I'm of a different generation and can't relate too well to contemporary poetry. I suppose this one isn't destined to make too much of an impression on others. I'm glad you had a look at it, and I thank you. Regards, Jerry

[rowens]

I like it anyway. I hope you don't forget it. It has enough to keep me interested; and if you abandon it right as it is now, I'll still like it. I think you should keep it in mind, and come back to it.

I'm in love with these scenarios, and these characters like Charon dragged into personal, if awkward, situations. It's worthy of having attention. Your attention overall. What isn't awkward nowadays?

And if I don't seem to be adding anything, I'm eager to see what you might or might not have to add. I think there is more to this effort.

[Snowbells]

Thanks, Rowens,
and I should say that, during a now distant war, in a sense I once encountered that character; his messengers are here to remind me of his return. There isn't much that I might add to this particular poem, and so, onward to bigger and better things. I'm glad you like that Charon character. Thanks again, take care. Jerry

[rowens]

I was hoping someone else would say something. To get the ball rolling, here.

These old figures tend not to choose their subjects lightly. Unlike UFOs in the area I live in.

But your experience with him counts. These encounters somehow explode people's heads with poetry.