I can’t seem to shake the darkness of what is happening in the world right now. I cycle between joy and sorrow daily. And so came this poem. The intermission-a good night’s sleep.


Curtains of Time

Minutes of hopelessness
tick away reasons for sorrow.
Time stands still.
Darkness descends,
the curtain falls,
and Sorrow takes the stage.
Her soliloquy:
a dirge for what she thought was true,
would endure,
would see her to the final act.

Sometimes, a spark of joy
cues the next scene.
The hour hand drifts -
forward,
an hour, two,
a handful of days.

Sorrow exits, stage left,
and then Joy enters
in a burst of light.
She wakes her up,
reminds her to laugh,
to love,
to live.
There is light -
reach for it,
grasp it,
hold on tight.
Don’t waste these minutes -
precious few are left.

Then shutting doors,
quiet goodbyes,
the echo of silence
signal the end.
That scene is finished.

How many more scenes
until this act concludes?
How many more acts
until the curtain falls
for the final time?

Enough now.
Time for intermission.



Poetry by Melinda K Zarate The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 3278 times
Written on 2025-09-07 at 04:00

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jim The PoetBay support member heart!
"a dirge for what she thought was true,
would endure,
would see her to the final act."

We of a certain age are watching the destruction of basically everything we worked so hard to achieve, primarily decency, respect, equality.

Your poem conveys so well the feeling of sadness, but also the peace that can still come from within.

jim
2025-09-07


Griffonner The PoetBay support member heart!
This, Melinda, IMHO is a great piece of poetry. The current world disorder and dis-ease is indeed greatly disturbing and is bound to bring sorrow to the thinking person's mind: Seeking joy in our lives is a natural balancing act. The healing power of sleep is a subject far to deep to talk of here, but your use of the word 'intermission' is quite brilliant I feel.
Now,the question is will there actually be a 'curtain call'? :o)
I pray that your joy will be everlasting. Blessings, Allen
2025-09-07