I know Death

For now I dance with Life. And I dance onward, expecting to dance only with Life for a good long while. But sometimes I see, Through my own dance, with my own Life, That one day, I will pass from the arms of Life. And I will dance a final dance, Safe in the frail arms of Death. Looking around I have seen That everyone dances with their own Life. No two are ever the same. Some Lives stand taller, prouder. Some are humble, and meek. But as I watch the experienced dancers pass From one set of hands to the next, I can see, All Deaths are the same. It is apparent. We all leave the same way. And for all our indiviudality, There is one end to our dance; We will dance with death for a while. Some will dance with him longer than others, Some will brush with him momentarily, Some will appear ablaze in quick tragic meetings with him. But. We all still. We will stand frozen for a while, And our partners, dancing still with Life, They will look at us for a while And their dance will continue onward. Our last memories in them embedded only within A few faltering steps Before the dance resumes properly. And in that frozen moment, I have no doubt all color will fade. Heat will be lost. And all we will taste is something soft and bittersweet. A recollection of dances past perhaps? Our bodies stiff and cold like ivory, We will stand still for a short bit of time only, Before Death gently holds us And carries us from the stage. Dancing with Life still, I can only presume what step we take next, What further dances could be wrought, If there are any at all. But I know My dance with Death will be the most memorable. For I have danced with Life many years already And although ever changing the steps, I can anticipate the movement And no step is too surprising That I will remember each new pirouette Or strange plie. I will dance with death once. A completely new adventure to be held by myself- And myself alone- I will feel things still unknown to me, And all things past will become irrelevant. Eupohria might overtake me. Perhaps pain or comfort too. But my Life will fade away, A bliss long past and no longer important. We will dance, he and I, Silhouettes along the stage's current of bright dancers, Yet unknowing of their own final dance. Myself, well, I may find I am not afraid. I may find that I am happy. I may find a miriad of monsters. But I will make sure, That my dance with Death, Will be a good one. That as I begin to stiffen, As the last remnants of Life's light leaves, I will shine brightly with love. For those who will one day follow, I will show no regret, And I will dance eagerly. And when finally my movement is impossible, And my breathe no longer carries me, I will not pull away from Death, No! I will hold him near. He will be the last certain thing, Before he sweeps me away To some new pioneer. Perhaps there is nothing after Death. Perhaps there is more. I do not know. But I know Death.