For Afterwards | Teen Ink

For Afterwards

August 19, 2011
By Laura_Oliver GOLD, Manchester, Connecticut
Laura_Oliver GOLD, Manchester, Connecticut
12 articles 2 photos 122 comments

You!
Do you know
What others will think
When you die?
Will they mourn
Or will they celebrate
Will they even know
It is a great thing
Fame
The light always upon you
Many hands
Tending to your needs
Preparing you
For the eye of the world
Yet that eye
Scrutinizes you
Will dissect your darkest corners
Tear apart what you considered
Your own
And many will despise you
Celebrate your departure
So I say, you!
Do you know
What others will think
When you die?
It is a great thing
Laziness
No great ambitions
Holding you down
To do the least
To be expected the least
To drop out of life
More than high school
Only the call of
Mindless entertainment
Holding your attention
Penniless?
The generosity of others
Provide your shelter
Starving?
Drugs will numb your
Well-deserved pain
And none will know
Nor care
When you cross the second threshold
I repeat, you!
Do you know
What others will think
When you die?
What will you leave
When your soul
Leaves the temple a lifeless shell
And your eyes
No longer sparkle
So perhaps
It is best
That you leave more than a will
A dead body
An unfulfilled purpose
And take on the world
And be great
And perhaps
Your others
Will mourn


The author's comments:
It won't matter in a few years what has happened now. So let go of those stupid childish things we worry about and try to accomplish something we can be proud of in our final years.

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This article has 1 comment.


on Sep. 27 2011 at 9:17 am
singingdetective SILVER, Sugar Land, Texas
9 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Out of a world of laughter, <br /> suddenly I am sad.<br /> Day and night, it haunts me,<br /> the kiss I never had&quot;<br /> --Midsummer by Syndey King Russell<br /> <br /> &quot;Chances lost are hope&#039;s torn up pages&quot;-- &quot;Chances&quot; by Five for Fighting

I think that this is one of your best poems :) It really gets my attention when you repeat "you! Do you know What others will think When you die?" It actually makes me ponder on what people will really say about me when I am dead.

I love the meaning this conveys, the sense of purpose to leave behind a shred of good in this life. :)