Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Death Comes Knocking

You can smell it when you walk
through the halls
nursing homes
old people
lives lived
love gained and lost
heroic actions mix with moments of regret

You can hear it

knock
knock
knock

The end is near.
Preparations made.
Relatives on call.

The hiss of oxygen tanks
the beep beep of a living pulse slowing down

knock
knock
knock

But sometimes
death comes in
the night
while still in the womb
no knocking
uninvited
movement transformed to stillness
inhale and exhale cease
memories never made
a live unlived

knock
knock
knock

preparations for life
become
preparations for death

birth outfits
become
death garments

knock
knock
knock

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