Promptly 4 and 5

Endgame

Endgame

The first and last, alpha and omega,
so life plays out its petty dance,
right to the end when breath comes short
and every nuance snatched at,
only to slip through the grasp,
aged fingers awkward in their haste
to hold the final moments hesitant,
the sight now dim in fading light.

Thus poor creature huddled in vain,
resigned through long acquaintance,
yet unable to loose its grip in final sigh,
would say quite bold, “Yes, now would be
the moment, smoothed by constant touch
to familiarity and rest.”

And then the life force, instinct, will,
turns in an instant ferocious still,
no, just one more breath, a second glance,
before I go - it’s not too much to ask.


Line count: 18
Free verse
For Promptly Poetry Challenge, Week 14 2024
Prompt: Use at least three of the following words in your poem: stunning, nuance, colorful, last, first.