.

Admonition

It is a form of madness
To long for days of yore.
And bitter is the sadness
O’er those who’ve gone before.

Now we, ourselves, must wander
The dark Stygian shore
And cross the river yonder,
But cross not anymore.

So, treat each other kindly,
Our days be few and sore.
Not transgressing blindly,
Our judgment being poor.

The hearts we crush, not blinking
And cast upon the floor,
Cruel words we spoke, not thinking,
Will haunt us evermore.

Heed these words, though fumbling.
Heed them, I implore.
For there may come a humbling,
For reckoning lies in store.

.

.

Edward Stansell is eighty-two years old and a master restoration bookbinder for the past sixty-two years. He resides in Clifton, Tennessee. As an author of short stories and poems, he has published three anthologies of short stories: Philadelphia and Points South, Sweet Tea and Cicadas, and Happenstance. He is currently writing a novel.

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23 Responses

  1. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Edward,

    Thank you for the powerful and well written admonition. Truly, to crush the heart of another will haunt one evermore. Your poem is the correct reply to the oft quoted “Sticks and Stones” verse.
    Gigi

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Thank you. I, myself have been the cause of many a heartache. There comes a time when we must face ourselves in the mirror and make amends where we can; hopefully before the ones we hurt are gone

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    There is something special about rhymes that match through several verses. The words just seem to roll on easily and I savor them. Your “admonition” is noted and applies at any age. If longing for days of yore is madness, then I am among the guilty.

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Thank you. I, myself have been the cause of many a heartache. There comes a time when we must face ourselves in the mirror and make amends where we can; hopefully before the ones we hurt are gone.

      Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Thank you for your kind remarks. It is a form of madness because we look back and torture oursrlves for things we can no longer correct.

      Reply
  3. Russel Winick

    I love a well-crafted poem which makes me ponder. This poem does that. Thank you, Sir.

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      It is I who should thank you. A poem is nothing without a reader. Thank you for making my effort worthwhile.

      Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      It is I who should thank you. A poem is nothing without a reader. Thank you for being my audience.

      Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Wisdom is everywhere but in order to find it we must desire it and search it out.
      Thank you for your kind words.

      Reply
  5. Edward Stansell

    Wisdom is everywhere but in order to find it we must desire it and search it out.
    Thank you for your kind words.

    Reply
  6. Paul A. Freeman

    I think with age we torture ourselves less and become more accepting of what fate has in store for us.

    Thanks for the read, Edward.

    Reply
  7. Cheryl Corey

    At 82 years old your literary efforts are an inspiration. I hope you are able to complete your novel.

    Reply
  8. Yael

    This is a very well composed admonition which I enjoyed reading and pondering, thank you.

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Thank you for your kind words and for being part of my audience. A poem is worth nothing without a reader

      Reply
      • Edward Stansell

        I thank you for your generous comment. A poem means nothing without a reader.

  9. Shamik Banerjee

    Thank you so much for a crucial reminder through this well-crafted poem, Mr. Stansell. I enjoyed it very much, especially the rhyme pairs you’ve chosen.

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      You are very gracious. Thank you for your generous comment and for being a reader. Poems require readers, without which they are nothing.

      Reply
      • Edward Stansell

        Thank you. Your generous comment is greatly appreciated.

  10. Jeff Eardley

    Thank you Edward for this poem to ponder on today as we of a certain age, gaze down the wrong end of the telescope of life. I really enjoyed this.

    Reply
    • Edward Stansell

      Thank you for your kind words and for reading my poem. A poem is worthless without the reader.

      Reply

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