The Kiss Of Death

What would it be like, if Death drew near,

And wrapped me close, without a sneer?

Would silence hum a sweet goodbye,

Or stars fall dim from a tearless sky?

Would it whisper, soft, “You’ve wept enough,”

And stroke my soul, once cracked and rough?

Would it speak of light I’ve never known,

Of warmth denied, of seeds unsown?

Would it erase each scar, each name,

And burn my guilt without a flame?

Would all I was just fade, undone,

No trace beneath the blackened sun?

Would it hiss, “The world you saw was lies,

Just painted masks and hollow skies.”

I feel it breathe behind my skin,

A chill that stirs the dark within.

Will this cross I drag through blood and stones

Be lifted from my weary bones?

Will struggle cease and pain make amends,

And bury skeletons with all their ends?

Let Death arrive, serene and slow,

To take the hand I cannot show.

For what I long for most is peace,

And only Death grants full release.

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

You have written an interesting poem that seems to be trying to simultaneously paint death in two different lights. On the one hand death “hisses” and is a “chill.” It breathes behind your skin. The poem feels dark, really dark, yet on the other hand the poem recognizes that death can arrive “serene and slow” and “grants full release.” The care you put into your work shows; I have been dipping in at random and it seems all your work has a dark, gothic feel to it. Have I missed anything light, sunny? Also, for me, the artwork is putting me off reading the poetry.

[Arundass TP]

A strong poem. Enjoyed reading