Death spoke...

[brokenwings]

My relationship with death has been evolving over the past few years.
This pair of poems are about the shift...


Part 1:


It took me a long time to stare death in the face
To meet the looming spectre head on
Not even angry, just curious

To ask, why do you take so much
So suddenly, without mercy
Why do you hover over us
A black hawk, black eyed
On your black mission

Why do you take so much?

It took death a long time to answer me
Charged was the air, as I waited for
A monumental statement of intent
The motive of my one true nemesis
Laid bare for me to know

'I sustain the mystery' death said

And there was nothing more
Four small words, yet revelation
For as I rolled them around my mind
I could taste, for sure, the truth



Part 2:


My daily contemplation, no dreadful chore
Is to gaze into the face of death

To confide, I wonder when you will come
Suddenly, or inch by tender inch
I know you hover over me
A grey dove, beady eyed
On your vital mission

When will you come?

It takes death a long time to answer me
Peaceful are those moments, as I wait
Familiar with the answer, needing only
To hear it again, as one would relax
Into a favourite melody

'Wait and see!' death said

I mock protest, but have learned
To be gracious in my unknowing
The ever present edge that lies ahead
My whetstone; honing my awareness, my gratitude






BW 2016

[H:O:R:A:C:E]

'Wait and see!' death said

recently, i've read that Bob Hope, on his deathbed,
was asked: "where would you like to be buried?"
his answer was: "surprise me"

[naturesflow]

Originally Posted by brokenwings

My relationship with death has been evolving over the past few years.
This pair of poems are about the shift...


Part 1:


It took me a long time to stare death in the face
To meet the looming spectre head on
Not even angry, just curious

To ask, why do you take so much
So suddenly, without mercy
Why do you hover over us
A black hawk, black eyed
On your black mission

Why do you take so much?

It took death a long time to answer me
Charged was the air, as I waited for
A monumental statement of intent
The motive of my one true nemesis
Laid bare for me to know

'I sustain the mystery' death said

And there was nothing more
Four small words, yet revelation
For as I rolled them around my mind
I could taste, for sure, the truth



Part 2:


My daily contemplation, no dreadful chore
Is to gaze into the face of death

To confide, I wonder when you will come
Suddenly, or inch by tender inch
I know you hover over me
A grey dove, beady eyed
On your vital mission

When will you come?

It takes death a long time to answer me
Peaceful are those moments, as I wait
Familiar with the answer, needing only
To hear it again, as one would relax
Into a favourite melody

'Wait and see!' death said

I mock protest, but have learned
To be gracious in my unknowing
The ever present edge that lies ahead
My whetstone; honing my awareness, my gratitude






BW 2016

Gracious in life and death. It is the bridge to living more alive...

[Abbara]

Originally Posted by brokenwings

'I sustain the mystery' death said

'Wait and see!' death said

Oh, brokenwings, I do so like these poems. I read them last week and wanted to tell you. The tenor of Death's responses in your poems sounds much like what I found... hesitant as if coming from a far place where there is no time; slow of speech, as if mocking my focus on timeliness in all things; indeed as if my time is of no concern of his. I felt him leaching my time into somewhere in space. And oh so succinctly answering... and giving so much in so few words. "I serve," he said.

[brokenwings]

Thankyou Abbara... death does get such a bad rap doesn't he..

We rush onto this life's stage, mostly eager to play our part, enjoying the spotlight in our own ways, but oh so reluctant to give it up and return to the wings... haha, no pun intended. So there must be someone to haul us off by the collar.... !!