The gospel
of Apostle Death
begins not
in a tomb..
but rather
in a womb.
Where it is dark
and warm
and seemingly
quite safe..
Alas, so many
seedlings
never see
the light of day.

When we are born
and gasp for air
for our first time..
and shiver at the vast
and cold outside..
guess who so often
greets us there?
None other than
God-mother
Death.

Just when we make it
to the cradle
and begin to live..
a careless mother
lays us on our stomach..
and we’re struck with SIDS.
Who lays us then
to our eternal rest?
Not our weeping mother..
but the motherly embrace
and lullabies of Death.

And even in
sweet innocence
of childhood,
oh.. so.. many things
may possibly go wrong.
An accident or an infection
always lurks around the corner
to cut short our tender song.

Most of the rest of us are lucky.
We are given the great privilege
to stumble through adulthood..
and pretend there is no Death.
Alas, we know she’s always there..
especially when, out of nowhere,
strange and unexpected knocks
are heard..
guess who is knocking
at our doorstep then?

As we grow old,
with every year
our tolling bell
rings louder.
Our bodies age..
not all of life
is creamy
as clam chowder.
Eventually we feel
her clammy hands
around our neck.
What joyful blessing
must it be..
at least
to know that you
have lived..
before your windpipe
cracks.

And as for her,
who follows us
deliberately
all-throughout our life..
who sees our every
triumph
and our every
strife..
Who keeps upon us
her unblinking eye..
and who collapses
all the memories
of our present past
into a single moment..
right before we take
our crossing..
To The Other Side?

She tells us
everything will be ok..
but is it dead
which can eternal lie?
Or is it true that some
strange aeons later..
even Death may die?