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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Death Is No Villain (Nov 27 Prompt: Heroes & Villains)


Death is no villain.

He has always
played straight with me,
offering no illusions.

He’s coming
and when he does
he won’t be deterred.

He reminds me
there is no time
but now,
and that the bird outside
is not just singing,
but he’s
sounding the alarm
to live NOW!
and the joy in my chest
when the music falls
perfectly
is death reminding me
to dance NOW!
and not think
about the end of the
song.

He never told me
he wasn’t coming,
and he keeps his word
by taking my parents,
aunts, friends
and other heroes,

sometimes
one at a time,

sometimes
in great, dispassionate
handfuls,
every single day.

Death is my hero
because I can trust him
to have the integrity
and keep his word,
to follow through
on his promise.

Until he comes for me,
I live,
skipping with impunity,
until that inevitable knock
on my door.

[For #OpenLinkNight @dversepoets where poets gather and encourage one another and #novpad]

26 comments:

  1. oh heck yes...dance now...live now...we never know when the song comes to an end...

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  2. Now is the only time! Thanks!

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  3. death is my hero because i can trust him...what a mind expanding line that is...but true as well...we can...and def now is all we got...

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    1. Thanks and I'm glad you're in my now. :)

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  4. Oh heck yes, so many of us never even live to enjoy drawing our pensions let alone anything else. Now is all we do have.
    Powerful truth in every line.

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  5. I agree now more than ever to enjoy each day... and knowing what I know about God gives me hope.

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    1. I agree with your attitude, thanks for the comment.

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  6. Anonymous3:06 PM

    Well played,

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    1. Thanks, but even then when you play against Death you always lose. :)

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  7. You have expressed what I think as well, Mosk. Death is a straight shooter, minces no words. His coming does give us reason to dance now, laugh now, live now. His voice is still on the horizon, but someday he will look us in the eye, and it will be too late then to wish to dance!

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  8. I love this! Have you ever read The Book Thief? Your portrayal of death is much like the one in that book, it is one of my favorite novels. And yes, dance!

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    1. The Book Thief, eh? Reminds me of an ex-gf I used to know... thanks.

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  9. The only certainty. The only truth I do not question. The only guarantee. I do not fear death...only the fear of not going first. Seeing my loved ones, rather...not seeing them anymore...is the hardest hurt to live with. So yes...he is hero...but I do wonder if he enjoys playing tricks on the living. Awesome write!

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    1. Thank you, thank you! Yes, I'm getting to that age when parents and parents of my friends are starting to die off. Ah, life... and death!

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  10. I agree, Buddah, dance and sing now while we can, cause when we're dead I don't believe we'll doing too much of that. Nicely written poem. Thanks for reading and commenting on my poem today, it is much appreciated.

    Pamela

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    1. Thanks so much - and what was your blog address again? I lost it!

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  11. Anonymous1:41 AM

    Yes! Living in the now is all we have. I love that stanza that starts "Death is my hero because I can trust him...." Oh, yeah! Great, Mosk!

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    1. Thank you - yes, it's always a struggle live in the now.

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  12. "...in great, dispassionate handfuls..." what a line. and i love the message of this piece. strong write, Mosk. :)

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    1. Thanks, Dr Joanna. Yes, Death's a playa, all right.

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  13. an interesting relationship. I never really saw how insightful death can be about life. a really fascinating write.

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