Barbara Writes

Jan 02, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Wails In The Wind

I hear wails in the wind
When mothers
Cry for a child
When fathers
Sob for a son

Deaths lurks about
Every bend touching folks
Unaware of his presence
Wails in the wind
Blusters in his callousness

The choirs sing sad songs
As mothers hands raise
To the heavens and
Fathers head bow
To the earth

Death rides away
On a black horse as
Wails in the wind
Trails in the rear
When coffins are lowered

— Barbara Writes, Jan 02, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Billy Collins, Shakespeare, , Emily Dickinson, , , Whitman, Jess Tapper

Critiques

zarul

17 years 5 months ago

hi

Hi Barbara, This is such a beautiful sad, and haunting poem. it reminds me of israel terrorizing Gaza. this poem contains such a wonderful poetic voice. CARPE DIEM ZARUL

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Zarul

Appreciate your comments, thanks for the kind critique. I could see people cries for their love ones in the wind like wind wails. I felt a need to write this poem with the attempt of expressing what I was seeing in a poem. Glad you like. I can see how the tragedy in Gaza relates because many are crying and their wails are carried off with wind as they can't be comforted because of the loss they are experiencing in their families and life. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

Linda Moses

17 years 5 months ago

Barbara

A very good write, It has great expression. Sincerely, Linda

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Linda

Thanks as always I appreciate your comments and taking time to read my poetry. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

Proprietress o…

17 years 5 months ago

delicate subject, strong write.

I had to read the lines Wails in the wind Trails in the rear quite a few times, such a beautiful surprise that you have left there for us readers! thank you, Barbara! respectfully Kata

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Kata

Thanks for reading and commenting. I change trails to travels hope this work better in the flow. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

Proprietress o…

17 years 5 months ago

Barbara,

I think you have misunderstood me! please don't change a thing about it! I had to read it several times because I find the lines so beautiful. the rhyme is a surprise in the middle of the poem, but I meant this in a positive way. I find it perfect. very good write. Kata

Sinbadthesailorman

17 years 5 months ago

Lovely write Barbara

The only thing, and it is most likely just "me" and the way i have to read over and over or maybe because, I have many people who talk with their hands in my faimly. Hands might flow better instead of hand not a big diff, but it clears it up Unless you meant to curse the Heavans The a single hand works very well as two would imply to me at least "why" Instead of "Damn you" which did you mean here do you think it makes a differance? Donnie/Sinbad

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Donnie

Thanks for the critique. I really appreciate your honest opinion as the difference in hand and hands does make a difference to me. Damn the heavens is certainly not my meaning. Thanks for pointing this out. I have made the changes. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

weirdelf

17 years 5 months ago

mmm, I think I am going to stop correcting you

on certain useages of english. callous is grammatically incorrect here (should be callousness), but you make it your own. A powerful write. cheers, Jess

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Jess

No! don't stop correcting grammar, callousness is definitely better. Grammar error takes away from the poem. I just write what i can remember from my English class 20+ years ago. Appreciate knowing when my grammar is off its accuracy. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Jess

Glad you think it is powerful. the word wails in the wind touch my heart and I had to write this because I could actually hear many cries from the sting of death in the wind and felt the need to share it. Respectfully Yours, Barbara

Robert Melliard

17 years 5 months ago

Trails in the rear

I liked this poem a lot. All living beings have to die, but we humans are presumably the only creatures on this planet that can imagine a better state of affairs (eternal life), so we'll never be able to accept death and the sad idea of our impermanence often weighs on our minds. That's why death causes so much grief and usually gets such a bad write-up in literature. Personally I didn't worry about death too much until all my (close) English relatives disappeared one by one. Since then I have written a lot about the pain of loss, which is especially acute for parents who lose a child, as your poem suggests. I'm afraid I didn't understand the line 'Trails in the rear'. What is the subject of the verb 'Trails'? Or is it a noun? By the way, some of your lines really sing... Best wishes, Robert. P.S. As far as I am aware, animals only 'worry' about death when they sense that their life is in danger - when they are hunted and their instinct of self-preservation comes into play Our dog, for example, seems to give no thought to the subject. I envy her sometimes. As well as not worrying about death, she doesn't have to pay taxes, clean the house, go shopping, cook or do practically anything, because we dumboes do it all for her...

Barbara Writes

17 years 5 months ago

Robert

Death is sad especially when it is a child. I been to two teen funeral one murderer and one car accident. I really felt for the mothers. which inspired my writing about death these days. In this poem trails is a verb. Trails in the rear here denotes the sound of crying being carried away by the wind behind death as it moves on for its next victim. I hope this clears it up for you. Respectfully Yours, Barbara