While we make plans
for where to go
next spring
or when to visit friends,
we plan for birthdays,
marriage,plan
to live while
in between
each heartbeat dwells
in darkness — death,
an interlude of indecision
to go on or cease — to live,
Today De hosts the Quadrille at dVerse… a poem of 44 words including the given word “heart”.
August 23 2021
Running in the slow lane
The view from here ... Or here!
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
chronicling my quarter life crisis
Now we see through a glass, darkly
rejuvenatement - not retirement
words and scribble.
The Quantumverse
Poetry, Photography, haiku, Life, word play, puns, free verse
About fantastical places and other stuff
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I’ve been reflecting on this kind of subject over the past month visiting my childhood home. We all have these layers of personal history which seem so deep when life is so short. I love the way the final lines can be read two ways.
Well, goodness. I already loved this piece, and then you went and ended it with a comma. How perfect.
This is deliciously dark and brooding! ❤️ You capture the feeling, the essence of one feeling indecisive so well here, especially love; “death,
an interlude of indecision to go on or cease — to live,” … love how this takes the poem to a deeper level 🙂
That second stanza in particular–“death an interlude of indecision. . .”
So much to this poem.
Bjorn,
There’s more to life than death (or its threat) — and you say it so well.
pax,
dora
The situation mimics pandemic planning.
Nice one
Much❤love
Horribly odd times we’re in for certain, and you capture it perfectly. Well done, BR
This is stunning and thought provoking. And have that rare quality of getting better for each read trough. Love it!
Not one of your usual styles, which I hope you’ll consider a compliment of your range. The abruptness of each line is quite a nice touch, and I enjoy the mix-and-match’dness of the language here – like pieces of a fragmented thought. Excellent.
There is distinct discomfort with that interlude of indecision between every heartbeat. It feels like drum beats of pressure, almost like the Poe’s tell-tale heart. It’s also like an elephant in the room. Excellent atmospheric piece and the artwork goes well with it.
It’s the indecision that will kill us. Let’s choose life! 😉
A somber and evocative ending. Great write.
“interlude of indecision” is a very dark place…Somber and much to ponder here.
Very poignant for the climate we are currenlty living in.
Sadly realistic and evocative during these dark times.
I love this! So well said re: the space in between beats
I like the way you have done this. Sadly I think these thoughts come more frequently as we get older.
I think you have captured the reality of life and current events. Making plans is hard when the future is uncertain. This veil of darkness called
covid still hovers altering the best of plans.
Wow. This feels like Schrodinger. It’s dark but it also reflects the pulse of our hearts, the pulse of our lives. I like it!
Perhaps shadow of death will motivate us to truly live, Are you getting married, Bjorn?!
an interlude of indecision
to go on or cease — to live,
Indecision can wear down good living in many ways. Great close very much in reality!
Hank
… to live, please!
We all go to those places/ that place in the poem, we need to. And I love the way you penned and presented it to us today. Thanks for bringing us this awareness. Enjoyed.
You’ve portrayed reality of life so very well, Bjorn. 🙂
“to go on or cease — to live,”…that is the question! But we have the choice to choose, or do we! Love it.
Life is feeble and unpredictable, but may the hearts be strong!
bright and then dark. a very well done unraveling, Bjorn with this powerful line: in between
each heartbeat dwells
in darkness
The best laid plans…
very, very interesting. I never thought about the lulls between heartbeats to be points of indecision for the heart… I like that imagery.
❤
David
All you can do is plan, live, and love. Both sad and hopeful.
Wonderful poem, Bjorn. I leaves me room for a reader to interpret.
I’ve lost count of how many times i have read your immensely satisfying poem ….
Life is so precious made even more so by your words. Death surrounds us each day- in the news, in doctor’s waiting rooms, in over burdened hospitals and yet the human spirit lives on.
I feel the questioning in your words and the image. I think we are allowed free will in the gaps. There is so much room in your words for different interpretations as well, which is what life is all about! 💓
Thats the question isnt it..To go on or just give up… This is beautifully written