When I am Dead | Teen Ink

When I am Dead MAG

January 21, 2009
By HannahW BRONZE, West Des Moines, Iowa
HannahW BRONZE, West Des Moines, Iowa
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

When I am dead, my dearest, don’t stick my bones
together with Scotch tape. Do not try to fit them
underneath a frame. Use them, one by one,
as a weapon, a gavel. My bones,
they can be good back scratchers, honey mixers,
and hands of clocks.

You can toss them across space
and see how far they’ll glide until another hand
slips across it. When I am dead, dearest,
thread my bones to the top of a mountain.

The next time you arrive at a glass sea,
spill it boldly. Spell your life in two parts,
watch them float until they descend
like a weight down into that container.



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This article has 406 comments.


on Feb. 17 2011 at 12:02 pm
13matthewwilliams BRONZE, Amity, Maine
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Believe It" by Naruto Uzumaki

this is one of the coolest poem

on Feb. 6 2011 at 1:40 pm
RiverSong BRONZE, Baltimore, Maryland
3 articles 0 photos 100 comments
This was beautifully written.  Sometimes I feel like we make too much of a fuss over death--ceremonies and songs and tears.  I know people need to be sad when someone dies, but I also know that whoever dies doesn't want them to be.  This captured that feeling perfectly.  Keep on writing.

Nickoli BRONZE said...
on Jan. 31 2011 at 9:02 pm
Nickoli BRONZE, Laramie, Wyoming
3 articles 2 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you don't know where it is that you are going, anywhere will get you there."

I enjoyed this poem, I had to read it a couple of times to get it. But it was very nicely written.

on Jan. 27 2011 at 12:07 pm
DarkWolfLover BRONZE, Aurora, Colorado
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You can't find love it has to find you

I love your poem...i kno just how u feel and understand

beemsi BRONZE said...
on Jan. 19 2011 at 10:44 am
beemsi BRONZE, Manalapan, New Jersey
3 articles 4 photos 2 comments
Now THIS is what I call pure poetry! Great job! :)

on Jan. 15 2011 at 9:06 pm
PictureUnperfect SILVER, Winchester, Massachusetts
5 articles 14 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We're all Mad here..."

amazing. (: a work of art

on Jan. 15 2011 at 8:16 pm
KaylynVictoria SILVER, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
5 articles 0 photos 77 comments

Favorite Quote:
Always keep your head up so you never have an excuse to look down at yourself(:

This is GREAT:))

on Jan. 15 2011 at 6:09 pm
AelitaReloaded PLATINUM, Scottsdale, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 179 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The pen is mightier than the sword" author unknown (to me)

I really don't understand this poem... Hey, could everyone please check out my new poem? 

on Jan. 15 2011 at 5:23 pm
shelterisland GOLD, Montclair, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 175 comments

Favorite Quote:
-Biting's excellent. It's like kissing only there's a winner."-Doctor Who, The Tardis

I have never read anything more beautiful; I have no other words for it.

RozaB SILVER said...
on Jan. 15 2011 at 10:40 am
RozaB SILVER, Milpitas, California
8 articles 0 photos 39 comments
Now this is what I call beauty. 

Abby96 BRONZE said...
on Jan. 11 2011 at 9:31 pm
Abby96 BRONZE, Leesburg, Virginia
3 articles 0 photos 26 comments
Amazing! Im not sure how to say this but the words just seem to  come together nicely.

Jones said...
on Jan. 6 2011 at 5:32 pm
Jones, Spotsylvania, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
Hey

wonderful poem, great inspiration as well. you are a great writer, and i love the emotion and creativity you used, i havent read much like it.

on Dec. 30 2010 at 8:21 pm
Kingfan123 GOLD, Charles Town, West Virginia
17 articles 6 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop to look around once in awhile, you could miss it."
and
"I'd rather stand alone for the right reasons than stand popular for the wrong."

What a wonderful poet your are! I wish you would post more stuff! Hey, would you like to be pen pals? I'm thriteen and from West Virginia! I'm Mitchell and you have checked out my stuff before! I'm Kingfan123!

spiria BRONZE said...
on Dec. 28 2010 at 3:57 am
spiria BRONZE, Fullerton, California
3 articles 0 photos 26 comments
This poem obviously means more than it says..... I just wish I can understand it better :(

on Dec. 24 2010 at 8:23 pm
vtuperationem.laus, Killingworth, Connecticut
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Literature as it is on paper is a shallow attempt of our minds to convey their great power. It is never finished.

This is poetry. 

Kai17 GOLD said...
on Dec. 24 2010 at 2:43 pm
Kai17 GOLD, Spokane, Washington
17 articles 5 photos 339 comments

Favorite Quote:
*beepbeep*
"Where to, Miss?"
"To the stars."

You are a brilliant writer; I can't wait to read more!

megglemsm97 said...
on Dec. 24 2010 at 11:18 am
megglemsm97, Middlesex, New Jersey
0 articles 10 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game."

Wow. Really deep..love it!!! :) ill def check out more of your work!

renni SILVER said...
on Dec. 16 2010 at 7:10 pm
renni SILVER, Crete, Illinois
5 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sometimes, that girl who seems so strong, who never lets what people say bother her, who smiles and laughs with her friends all the time, is really the girl who, deep down, is falling to pieces.

ohh my :D i am in love with ur writting :D so great i love it keep it up :D

on Dec. 10 2010 at 9:05 am
ShelbyMarie93 PLATINUM, Lexington, Nebraska
35 articles 1 photo 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
"When Death to either shall come -- I pray it be first to me." ~Robert Bridges
or
"Life is not a jump; it's a headfirst dive."
or
"Within you I lose myself; without you I find myself wanting to be lost again."

╔══╗
╚╗╔╝
╔╝(¯`v´¯)
╚══`.¸.Isaac H.

I on't want to sound ignorant, but I'm in the same boat...what's happening here? By the end I've lost the message behind your words...

on Dec. 2 2010 at 7:30 pm
Hannahlovestheworld BRONZE, Purcellville, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
' Be who you are and say what you feel because the ones that mind don't matter and the ones that matter don't mind '
-Dr. Seuss.

You are one talented writer.

I envy you.