Death

Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson, published in 1890
Because I could not stop for Death
He kindly stopped for me
The Carriage held but just Ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the School, where Children strove
At recess in the ring
We passed the fields of gazing grain
We passed the setting sun.

Or rather, he passed us
The dews drew quivering and chill
For only Gossamer, my gown
My tippet only tulle.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the GROUND
The roof was scarcely visible
The cornice in the ground.

Since then 'tis centuries and yet
Feels shorter than the DAY
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.


Faced with two Choices by Kris Stasik

As the wheels turned on and on

And moon entered the sky

Death turned around and faced me

And stared into my eyes.

He did not need to offer

For I already knew

The complicated dilemma

He was to put me through.

I had a choice, you see

I was not fully dead

I could lie within the ground

Or ride with him instead

He needed a companion,

For his never-ending ride

 A life of immortality

With a partner by his side.

I looked up to the stars

And contemplated in my head

To ride with him to eternity

Or to be in a grave instead

I turned around to face him

Eyes piercing into his

I took a slow breath and replied

“I am not meant to live.”