At Journey's End

 

I'll not lie down, nor sit and wait

The black-draped barge to float on by,

Nor offer up my throat, like ears of corn

To wait the sickle sigh,

Should death's bleak hooded figure call

He'll find that I have quit the town

And left no forwarding address

That he might use to track me down.

 

One step ahead, I'll change my name

Then dye my hair a rich dark brown,

Or failing that, I'll shave my head

And raise my brows, an inch around.

I'll grow a beard, or cut it off

If I have grown a beard before

Then take to sailing out from ports

Where Death has sallied forth once more.

 

I'll dress my woman in long boots

And tie her hair up out of sight,

Then we will slink from town to village

Making love by day, not night.

We'll sleep in hay ricks, fields and barns

While one keeps watch, each turn about,

So if his hood should cause alarms

We'll both be gone by morning light.

 

We'll trek up mountains, hills and valleys

Everywhere that he's just been,

We'll tail him as he travels onward

Scything through each village green,

And when he corners us at last

We'll drink long from a stirrup cup

And cheat him from his final scene

By leaving life, before he's up.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Norma J. Jessee]

We may be able to out-fox Death for awhile, but in the end he always claims his prize sad to say.
There are times when death frightens me to the point of causing panic to arise, then
there are times I have secretly wished for death to come and perhaps ease my suffering. But in the end
I supose we're all frightened of death no matter how brave we may be appear to be. There is a verse in the Bible, I can't remember where it is at this moment but it tells us to "Weep at a birth and Rejoice at a death." At first this made no sense to me, but as I mulled over it through the years I think I understand it better now. With the world in the condition it is in it makes sense to weep at a birth, when you think of all the things that person will have to endure during his or her lifetime. And to rejoice at the end of a life, that person is through with all their trials and tribulations and can at last rest.
But no matter how we put it no one likes to think of death. I think that is why so many joke about it, I have found that when people are confused about something or afraid of it they joke about it, to dispel their fear.
Excellent write David.

[James K. Blaylock]

I simply adore this piece. I believe we all think of death (either all of the time or every so often) within this lifetime. But one thing is certain, we shall all face him sooner or later. Surely everyone has had some happening occur where they barely made it through whatever ordeal only by the skin of their teeth and thought they somehow had cheated death, but in the end it was simply meant to be that way for the time being. Awesome writing!

jkb

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

Oh David, this is such a wonderful piece and the idea that you can cheat death inspiring. Well done.
Hugs
Debby

[Valentine]

I am laughing so if I type words wrong...do not blame me..That is one way to trick the Grim reaper..You are so talented David.. I am saving this one in favorites and sending it to a lot of friends. I love the line not leave a forwarding address..That cracked me up after the earlier lines..Also cheating him of his final scene by leaving before he gets up..Sneaky..loved it..God bless..Valentine

[Wildfleour]

Sounds like a great plan for a life well-lived!