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.


laaeira BRONZE said...
on Feb. 26 2010 at 8:01 pm
laaeira BRONZE, Kilgore, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 18 comments
I LOVED THE POEM LOL KINDA FUNNY

on Feb. 26 2010 at 8:59 am
writergirl13 GOLD, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
11 articles 8 photos 261 comments

Favorite Quote:
All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.<br /> Ambrose Bierce

Well, there really isn't anything else I can say, I think all the possible compliments have already been said. :) However, I do want to add one thing, though: "Thedude", everyone has their own opinion, but you also have to think about what you say to people who've poured their heart out in their pieces. that is all. :)

on Feb. 23 2010 at 10:13 pm
EmilyMarie BRONZE, Cave Creek, Arizona
1 article 0 photos 8 comments
this is amazing! good job :)

on Feb. 23 2010 at 9:31 am
Francheska BRONZE, Holbrook, Arizona
4 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never take life for granted because you never know when it could be taken away from you

i don't agree with him no matter how nice he say's it. but whatever it's your opinion.

Coolsurfer5 said...
on Feb. 22 2010 at 7:37 pm
Coolsurfer5, Port St. Lucie, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
He could have said it nicer but i agree with him.

on Feb. 22 2010 at 1:34 pm
Francheska BRONZE, Holbrook, Arizona
4 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never take life for granted because you never know when it could be taken away from you

your are being very rude and unappreciative of her artistic skill. why are you on this site if you are just going to hate?

on Feb. 19 2010 at 11:20 pm
Mystery_Girl SILVER, Lake, Michigan
8 articles 6 photos 86 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love me or Hate me&quot;......&quot;Me Vs. The World and the World is Winning&quot;......&quot;When the going gets tough the tough get going&quot;.

OMGG!! That was a terrible comment Thedude. I took that very sensitivily. This poem was great. And most the time if ppl write about happy things (no offense to anyone I give you all the benefit of the doubt!!!) they are cheesy. This is AMAZING!!! And you need to learn to be nice...

on Feb. 19 2010 at 8:58 pm
Karma_Chameleon SILVER, English, Indiana
8 articles 0 photos 236 comments

Favorite Quote:
To be able to say &quot;I love you&quot; one must first be able to say &quot;I&quot; - Ayn Rand

To "Thedude" - have you nothing better to do with your time than judge others? I've giving unconstructive and unwarrented critisism is what you do in your spare time --- there is a problem. Love the poem HannahW, keep it up!

on Feb. 19 2010 at 8:15 pm
juicyfan6 BRONZE, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.&quot; - J.K. Rowling

I loved the way this was written. This poem was REALLY good. AWESOME job. :)

on Feb. 19 2010 at 2:44 pm
sunnyhunny PLATINUM, Litchfield, New Hampshire
22 articles 3 photos 329 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.&quot;<br /> -Ghandi

I agree with wixchick1. This is a great piece of writing, and I'm not sure exactly what the author meant by everything that they worte, but the true meaning is between the lines. This is clearly metaphorical and personal and I agree that you need to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Everyone has their own creative writng styles, and the originality in this is what makes it so great.

on Feb. 19 2010 at 12:54 pm
Ebony_Rose PLATINUM, Hot Springs, Arkansas
21 articles 0 photos 54 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The simplest way that i can understand therapy is that we&#039;re born a certain<br /> way, we&#039;re taught to be something different, and we spend our whole lives<br /> trying to unravel it and ultimately align ourselves with who we really are.&quot; ~Billy Corgan

I like it... It's unique and kind of made me laugh a little....

on Feb. 19 2010 at 12:25 pm
Acalleq PLATINUM, Togiak, Alaska
22 articles 5 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have

sweetly chilling. thought the part about don't stick my bones together with Scotch tape was especially nice. if you want to come check out some of the stuff i wrote and give feed back. keep it up!

on Feb. 19 2010 at 8:48 am
alayapoetgirl BRONZE, St. Louis, Missouri
4 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is hard; but it&#039;s harder if you&#039;re stupid. -John Wayne

I really enjoyed this poem! It is phenominal. When you get the time, check out my opinion essay on animal rights/vegetarianism

on Feb. 19 2010 at 6:18 am
sheldrakebrandon, Westchester, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.&rdquo; (Eleanor Roeesevelt)

Some of the most artistic pieces are created out of subjects that are hard to discuss, for example Edgar Allen Poe. I think that this person has constructed a creative peice that deals with a so called "after life," therfore we should praise her not insult her.

ivyleef said...
on Feb. 18 2010 at 11:55 pm
This is wonderful! Truly amazing.

twiwrite GOLD said...
on Feb. 18 2010 at 2:32 pm
twiwrite GOLD, Modesto, California
14 articles 0 photos 111 comments

Favorite Quote:
none :P

the dude

do you know what positive and constructive critisism is? obviously not. you do not understand the subtlties orf wrighting to be able to give a decent opinion of this wonderful peice because your too obstinante to read between the lines and to the heart of the words.

E.Lee GOLD said...
on Feb. 16 2010 at 10:00 am
E.Lee GOLD, Akron, Ohio
15 articles 0 photos 168 comments
i agree with wixchick1....the only crazy one is you, thedude. this poem is actually very good, but i guess you'd have to have the mind of a true writer to figure that out. it says alot, hidden beneath the words, its not only about stringing bones together and weapons... :/

on Feb. 11 2010 at 4:10 pm
zombieattack BRONZE, Winslow, Maine
3 articles 1 photo 17 comments
I agree with wixchick1. Mr. thedude, you're sort of being a jerk. That's really uncalled for, you obviously have no appreciation for poetry or meaning. Really, grow up. Have a lovely day:)

on Feb. 9 2010 at 3:00 pm
wixchick1 BRONZE, Marion, Indiana
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
&lt; At fourteen, you really do start realizing that the world is not a safe and protected place or not always.<br /> ~ J. K. Rowling, on darker aspects of the books

Dear thedude,

I feel like you are being very judgmental. Please just try and appreciate the rhythm and the power of this work. Read A Tree Grows in Brooklynn sometime, you sound just like the ignorant teacher trying to mar the protagonists creative talent. Oh and HAVE A NICE DAY! :)

on Feb. 9 2010 at 3:00 pm
wixchick1 BRONZE, Marion, Indiana
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
&lt; At fourteen, you really do start realizing that the world is not a safe and protected place or not always.<br /> ~ J. K. Rowling, on darker aspects of the books

Dear thedude,

I feel like you are being very judgmental. Please just try and appreciate the rhythm and the power of this work. Read A Tree Grows in Brooklynn sometime, you sound just like the ignorant teacher trying to mar the protagonists creative talent. Oh and HAVE A NICE DAY! :)