Memento Mori by Charl Landsberg

Charl Landsberg | March 11th, 2016 | a poem a day challenge, poetry | No Comments

Poem

Keep your sink full.
Keep the water warm,
ready for the coming storm.
Keep the soap lathered,
and wash as you go.
Eat and clean:
so when he comes,
you’re on your way.
He doesn’t do slow,
and won’t let you stay…
…for long.
You really don’t want to be caught,
with dirty dishes,
now do you?
Or otherwise don’t bother.
Let the dishes flock.
It won’t matter either way,
when your door breaks at his knock.

Glossary

Memento mori is latin for “Remember you must die.” It was a particular practice of Christian medieval artists and scholars to embed reminders of death in their work, and although the imagery is generally quite ubiquitously similar, all being skull and bones and the like, the reasons varied from group to group, whether it was for religious purposes or merely just reflecting on the fact of mortality.

Poet Bio

Charl Landsberg is a South African poet, artist, musician, and writer who’s work reflects many issues often surrounding social justice, commentary, or sometimes just fantasy and science fiction.

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