prospective tango partner…

death’s the ultimate
elephant in the room but
danseurs sidestep it
pretending their dance cards’ full 
but the last dance will be death’s

 

 

heaven on earth…

we feel death’s breath
more each year upon our neck
and still we deny 
and refuse to turn and face
life’s end of eternal grace

 

 

growing up with death…

the young don’t fear death
its face is so familiar
just an old neighbor
who comes into other’s lives
unseen as their visitor 

 

 

enlightenment…

he talks
as if
yesterday
did not
exist
and
ignores
what
tomorrow may bring
everything
is
about today
or
as he says
the
now
so
yesterday’s wounds
that
have no pain
today
will
kill him
tomorrow

classic human denial…

you walk by it
everyday
and
avert your eyes
from
the larger
than
life
sign
denoting
your
upcoming
eviction
from
life

you are dying…

just outside
the glow
of
life’s street lamp
death
lingers
like
a gaseous shadow
merging
with
night’s fog
floating
like
waves
into view
then
receding
into
the darkness
as if
reminding
us
of
its presence
for all too often
we deny
that
death
is near
and
that
we
are close
to
extinction

 

the book of dying 3:12…

on the seventh day death awakened
leaving without rest to find men
telling all men fear not death
for you alone will live forever

 

 

further the deponent sayeth not

temporary sanity…

 

facing other’s deaths
forces us to face our own
however briefly
before we close our eyes tight
and enter life’s dream again

 

beggars banquet…

averting our eyes
death like a beggar stares up
no words for alms heard

passages #8….

the doorway to death
in not really an option
you may drag your feet
whimper child-like before bed
but you’ll be tucked in one day