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 Oct. 14 2012 at 5:35 pm
Dead__Silent BRONZE, Estero, Florida
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
" All that we see or seem, it but a dream within a dream " ~ Edgar Allan Poe

That was Beautiful! :)

on Oct. 11 2012 at 7:32 pm
lizzyw77 BRONZE, Wayland, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 17 comments
Right as I read the first line, I knew the reference to the original poem "song" with the lines "when I am dead, my dearest." I recently wrote one like that, maybe I will submit it as well!! :) 

on Sep. 17 2012 at 3:49 pm
Savannainthesky GOLD, West Suffield, Connecticut
11 articles 0 photos 107 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It may have been in pieces.. but I gave you the best of me"-Jim Morrison(the doors)

This is so hauntingly beautifull!!!!!!

jusc44 BRONZE said...
on Aug. 31 2012 at 10:52 am
jusc44 BRONZE, Ankeny, Iowa
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
you only have one life, live it

This is really good, well done.

maximel GOLD said...
on Aug. 24 2012 at 3:35 pm
maximel GOLD, Dakar, Other
10 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
“There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon.”

— Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉)

This is fantastic. Beautifully done. 

TaurusGal GOLD said...
on Jun. 1 2012 at 2:54 pm
TaurusGal GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
13 articles 25 photos 107 comments
Wow... I am speechless!!!!!!!!!! Bravo, masterpiece.  Very clear message and lively poem.

Lizla BRONZE said...
on May. 21 2012 at 5:38 pm
Lizla BRONZE, Shelter Island, New York
2 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in the end. It has to. It's the thing that lets us say goodbye." -Jeffrey Eugenides

I LOVE this! You've got an incredible gift!

Puyruf said...
on Apr. 1 2012 at 10:22 am
Puyruf, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 7 comments
I love this! Most poems about death are depressing and overly morbid, but this is positive and has a very strong message about carrying on after loss. It's really unique, and I admire that. Please keep writing!

on Mar. 30 2012 at 3:57 am
KaylaMarie3003 GOLD, King, North Carolina
17 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened:) -dr seuss

i love this! my poems are about different things and touch you in different ways. yall should check them out :)

on Mar. 18 2012 at 12:58 pm
Belluna45 PLATINUM, Shelbyville, Kentucky
31 articles 0 photos 58 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Look after my heart- I've left it with you."
-Stephenie Meyer (Eclipse (Twilight #3))
"Either write something worth reading or do something wor
th writing."
-Benjamin Franklin
"A dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest."
-Johnny Depp

amazing....just really amazing! 

on Feb. 26 2012 at 3:07 pm
MarbleJarble BRONZE, Springboro, Ohio
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.

That was amazing! Really awesome. Thanks for that(: 

RosySea SILVER said...
on Feb. 8 2012 at 1:07 pm
RosySea SILVER, Port Hadlock, Washington
5 articles 0 photos 6 comments
This is beautiful...I give it five stars!

on Jan. 2 2012 at 1:13 pm
HinataHyuga SILVER, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
To never give up is my nindo, my ninja way. I can't run before taking my first step. A place to return to is were someone always thinks of you. Naruto-kun. Miso ramen. Back off kushina tomato Minato is mine! Kingmortha is my BFFFFF on teenink!

Its to much for me but I can understand it! YOUR GOING TO MAKE ME THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A WEEK! I LIKE IT

on Jan. 2 2012 at 12:32 pm
JessJess96 BRONZE, Town Creek, Alabama
1 article 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Some people see the world in black and white, but never see the shades of gray. Those shades of gray are the ones that would give me hope, because they open my eyes to so much more." -Me

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! :)

on Dec. 31 2011 at 12:57 am
Missundrstoodx2, Indianapolis, Indiana
0 articles 11 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You never know what it enough until you know what is more than enough."

Bold and brave thought process - most are afraid to consider death or attempt to tackle the concept. I appreciate the humor, your destruction of 'functional fixedness' as you force us to consider the different uses of bones, and therefore our different uses and purpose on this earth when we are long gone. Keep it up

on Dec. 21 2011 at 12:49 pm
Schuyler BRONZE, Bronx, New York
3 articles 0 photos 12 comments
I really enjoy the tone of the poem it  sounds really sweet and amazing 

on Dec. 12 2011 at 9:58 am
MichaelaBurdick666 SILVER, Hoosick Falls, New York
5 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

this is amazing :).

on Dec. 11 2011 at 1:55 pm
SaskiaBlu SILVER, Oakland, California
8 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"...in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." - The Desiderata

I just joined this site and this is the best poem I have read. Your imagery is provocative and unique and bright. You managed to make a poem about death uplifting and beautiful. Bravo.

on Nov. 30 2011 at 12:16 pm
sjohnson BRONZE, Wiergate, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.

this is very insightful on your views of death

on Nov. 24 2011 at 2:35 am
sweetdreamsmylove GOLD, Glendale, California
10 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
“All are architects of fate, living in these walls of time.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

love it! i dont think it's creepy at all, i actually think it's very clever and deep :)