Take Me, Oh Death!

A poem about confronting the fear of death and the gift of the afterlife.

Take me, Oh Death, embrace me,
For I do not fear the circle
Of your rotting, fetid flesh.
Stretch out your hand to me,
And I will clasp the clammy cold.
Mild will I follow thee into the black unknown.

You strut through lives full pomp and pride,
Stopping only to spit-shine your scythe
Until it gleams brighter even than the Son.
We quiver beside our beloved dead,
Silently pleased they fill our stead,
Draped in black lace, our faces pale as bone.

But here's the rub, Oh Death, my friend,
Your secret I've found out!
For though most fear thee as the end,
'Tis only born of doubt.

The truth lies not inside the circle of your cold embrace.
You are no more than a fleeting glimpse, an unknown face
Lost in the crowd, the floating fog of breath on bitter winter's day,
A pause, a moment, a comma that halts me 'fore I say,

Take me, Oh Death, embrace me,
For past you lies the light!
Through the pause I'll swiftly fly
Into God's immortal sight.




Won first place in the 4/22/11 through 4/29/11 round of: "Invalid Item"