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When I Have Penned My Final Thoughts

_When I
have penned my final thoughts and left to meet
_the sky,
don’t organize my table; let the sheet,
the thumbtacks, and the cartridge pen lie there;
let them assume I’ve gone to get some air.

_Don’t switch
the desk lamp off. Its glow will reach me through
_the pitch-
black, starry intrados, producing new
beliefs about a parted man’s revival,
and say to me, “I’ll wait till your arrival.”

_Should they
enquire about my absence of long years,
_please say
to them that I am with The Pioneer
of Verse, whose words can spawn a life and grow it;
He’s guiding me to be a better poet.

first published by Amethyst Review

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Shamik Banerjee is a poet from Assam, India, where he resides with his parents. His poems have been published by Sparks of Calliope, The Hypertexts, Snakeskin, Ink Sweat & Tears, Autumn Sky Daily, Ekstasis, among others. He received second place in the Southern Shakespeare Company Sonnet Contest, 2024.

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18 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Fascinating way to resolve the variance in meter between the first two lines and second two of each verse. The contemplation of the poet on the divine future in store is beautifully done.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I’m glad you felt so, Mr. Peterson. Your concrete understanding of my poem has made happy. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  2. jd

    I agree with Roy. This is a beautiful poem which all we “wordies” can relate to. I love your use of “Pioneer” for He Who is everything.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I too hope everyone will relate to this, JD. Thank you so much for your beautiful comment.

      Reply
  4. Brian A. Yapko

    I am very moved by this poem, Shamik, and its philosophical contemplation of the speaker’s own death. It’s a most interesting rhyme-scheme. Is this your original nonce form or is it a recognized form that I’m not familiar with? I love your reference to God as “The Pioneer of verse.” Assuming that I’m not misreading your intent here, I rather think you should capitalize the V of verse to complete and confirm the novel title you have bestowed upon Him. And again assuming the correctness of my reading, this is a superb allusion to the opening of the Gospel of John “In the beginning was the Word…”

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Such a heartfelt note, Brian. I am not sure if this rhyme scheme was employed in the past, so I would like to believe it’s my invention. You’re absolutely right about the capitalisation of “V” in verse. And yes, it completes the notion I’m trying to convey. You are also correct about the final part: the opening of John’s gospel plays an important role here. Thank you so much for reading and leaving this beautiful comment, Brian. God bless.

      Reply
  5. Yael

    This poem is interesting and touching all at once. Anthropomorphizing the poet’s inanimate desk items sets the stage for his transition from the lower realms of death and stuff to the higher realms of eternal life and pervading consciousness in the presence of the Life Giver. I also really like The Pioneer of Verse title for The Word, and I agree with Brian that the V should be capitalized. I enjoy reading this poem, thank you. The picture is really nice too.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Dear Yael, I’m truly moved by your interpretation regarding the materials present on the poet’s desk and their linkage with transcendence and the afterlife. Thanks for this beautiful analysis, and yes, the “V” needs to be capitalised. God bless!

      Reply
  6. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Shamik,

    This is a fascinating poem. I love the form and the concept. You wish to retain some influence in this world after your death. (Certainly, we all do.) Even more than the desk and writing implements, I believe your poems will outlive you and keep your beautiful thoughts blessing others here when you are no longer her to do it.
    Also, as another poet, I love to consider that my writing will be perfected in Heaven by the Pioneer of Verse.
    Thank you.
    Gigi

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Dear Gigi,

      This is such an uplifting comment. I hope and pray that we all may leave behind a lasting influence on this earth through our works. Thank you so much. God bless you!

      Reply
  7. Daniel Kemper

    I think I read this line with more weight than others, perhaps appropriately, perhaps not:

    “beliefs about a parted man’s revival,”

    Indeed, in the return, who then is the real “I” ? In what way do I join “The Pioneer of Verse,” verse, which is after all vibration…

    Does that get at some of the depths you are bringing up?

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Thank you so much for your time and attention, dear Daniel. The “I”, as per my understanding, is the soul. That very line expresses my desire to come back and continue my work. But coming back (rebirth) is a something I am not sure about. Some religions believe in it while some not. Even enlightened monks and saints don’t say anything about this topic. They simply maintain silence and tell us to pray and do good deeds. Perhaps, the truth is so profound that one can’t express it in words.

      Thank you again. God bless you.

      Reply
  8. Paul A. Freeman

    ‘I am with The Pioneer of Verse’.

    I love this allusion to a passive divinity of poetry that’s waiting to discuss our work with us, rather than an overarching god figure.

    Thanks for the read, Shamik.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Many thanks for reading and commenting on my poem Mr. Freeman. I hope you are doing well. Take care.

      Reply
  10. Margaret Coats

    Shamik, this is a poem with images parallel to those of the “beautiful desk ideal” in European and Asian cultures. Perhaps you know its particulars in India. Your paraphernalia are modern, including an electric lamp, but just as the inkwell and the quill in the illustration here, yours evoke thoughts of endless ages. And they are so alive as to miss the writer!

    Going back to the Pioneer of Verse is a brilliant idea. Since a verse, or line of poetry, needs a word to begin, how better to call up the Word who first produced all created things in the beginning with the sacred series of perfectly effective words producing the universe?

    You have done so well here that I apologize for mentioning my own humble desk poem, but this is the season for it, and because it was published before you happily came among us, you might like to see this one referring to Japanese and Chinese tradition:

    https://classicalpoets.org/2021/08/08/hagi-at-my-study-window-and-other-poems-for-mid-summer-by-margaret-coats/

    Reply

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