I love death, my own

from poetry collection: Geometric Shapes and Non-linear Narratives written during a depressive episode one autumn

I love death, my own

as I love life.

I embrace it -- all its mighty

strength

my arms weak,

shoulders heavy with hunger.

Death, I am.

I am Death, the cloaked thing

loyal friend,

merciful ghost.

Life, this world 

and the world beyond

the bottomless fall, the faithful leap

They yell and weep

Yell and weep, they all.

The chasm.

Life. Death. And what lies in between

I am standing by that chasm

Let me walk you

across that bridge.

Hand in hand

our shoulders merge together

and two lights -- 

one of hope, one of fear

the faithless stand here, naïve

watching and waiting as

Time blows them out.

It blows them out

like a candle... 

In Saitama, the sky is beautiful.

Every day, the clouds gather like congregations

of enormous size and mass

Love you, they say, love you 'til the very last. 

Author's Note

I am okay. This was written years ago during a particularly melancholic time of my life.

Reviews

[Amy R]

Wow, I loved this poem, it shows us so many things including accepting life as is...to be alive and enjoying it all, we must first accept death.

Words like "embrace," "mighty," "loyal," and "merciful" convey a sense of reverence and acceptance toward death. The juxtaposition of "hope" and "fear" further illustrates the duality of the human experience. Great write and imagery too.

This poem encourages us readers to accept life as is and death included, for they both go hand in hand.
Thank u for sharing such a deep poem,
-Amy

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you Amy, your words are so encouraging. i really want to invite readers to give their own interpretation, but you really captured what i was thinking and feeling at the time. accepting death is the hardest thing anyone can do, yet we must.

[Amy R]

You're welcome, really happy to hear this,
Have a good evening and weekend.

[Olivia Bant]

Such a beautiful and realistic poem. This reminds us that life and death are part of the world, very much present. That we shouldn't only see the first and put the latest in the closet. Just because one is visible, doesn't mean the other does not exist, just because we don't see it. This poem here invites us to embrace both.


"Hand in hand
our shoulders merge together
and two lights --
one of hope, one of fear"

Life is hope and Death is fear, the fear of the unknown, because we don't know exactly what is life after death once it takes us.

Beautiful and inspiring work here. I very much love it.

[Pryde Foltz]

It blows them out
like a candle...
In Saitama, the sky is beautiful.
Every day, the clouds gather like congregations
of enormous size and mass
Love you, they say, love you 'til the very last.

Such a wonderfully elegant write. You handle a very difficult with subject with such grace. Wonderful write.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks! this is one of my favourites, written years ago but i still revisit.

[Throwing Romeo]

Somehow we look in the same kind of mirror and imagine the
reflection absentee. You have captured this frame hauntingly
beautiful like the breath condensing to the last drop.
Strong write.
Connective tissues of language
the closest to immortality we have. Thankfully,
R.

[AYVID N]

Death casts a shadow on life. Yet it need not be so. We tend to think about Death more when in a depressed state than generally. That's probably because depression brings a standstill to life. While thoughts of death evaporate when one is living life to the fullest. It would be amazing then, if we could welcome the thought of death as joyfully as we do of life. It could help us live more meaningfully. Marie's review on this poem says it all. Thank you for another thought provoking poem.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

depression brings a standstill to life. couldn't have said it better. when i wrote this i certainly was depressed, but also ready to accept death in a fairly philosophical way. i still feel that way all the my depression is mostly gone. and i hope i can carry this sentiment in the years that follow -- for many years. for where there is life, there is always an opportunity to express love.

[Marie]

A sublimely penned poem which I have enjoyed reading, Ern M. Life and Death are twins born at the same time as we enter the human world. They walk together each moment of the day. Life is what happens between birth date and date of death and you have captured that very poetically in the poem. Death is the companion which helps us to leave the human world so we can return home to Spirit when the last moment of our lifetime has arrived. It is so important to acknowledge that Death is our companion because it helps us to live our life to the fullest, to enjoy life to the fullest and to be happy knowing that this world is only a temporary visit, it is not actually our home. A very powerfully penned poem, well expressed, thought provoking and equally insightful. Surprised I don't find anything melancholic about the poem, dear Ern M. I find it very realistic, even comforting to read. It is excellently penned! Thank you for sharing, dear poet...

[Arundass TP]

Death is a mystery what we see truly, birth is a mystery that others see and self won't see. Nobody knows why we are walking with conscious like a dream. Life is like drawing a line and we think it's infinite. Definitely I don't want to be here. Then why am I here? Good poem

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

absolutely. i think we share an understanding about how mysterious the universe is. i'm glad to meet a kindred spirit.

[duff]

The confrontation is unavoidable. I enjoy your direct take on what happens next. Dark and beautiful lines.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks duff. always enjoy reading your comments

[Lisasview]

Interesting read and i did like it because as you know I relate to death as my Forevermore poem shows.
Always great to write about our feelings.
I actually posted a few poems I wrote when I was 20 years old... Not sure if you have read any of those..
And there are quite a few throughout the many years I have been writing....now that I am 76 years old...
Lisasview, now in Spain

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

i envy you. i bet living in spain has done wonders for your health and happiness. i will check out those works of yours. death is one topic you should get every person's opinion on, and i'm glad i could share my feelings on the matter here to you.

[Lisasview]

Yes, we decided 4 years ago to live in Costa Blana North... full time.. Where are you?
Lisa

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

a small city in japan, near tokyo. i guess it's nice but nothing to rave on about.

[Lisasview]

Our son-in-law played for the Tokyo Giants for four years...pretty famous...Darrell May..
Finally retired..after playing for the majors including the World Series.
Heath is our priority so yes living here is and will continue to be great for us....
Lisa

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

of course i know Darrell May!!! he was a sensation here, i can't believe i've been writing letters to his mother in law. absolutely honoured to know you ma'am.

[Lisasview]

Such fun to connect with so many people just by being open...I love it...
Great that you know of him,
Lisa

[Ken Simm.]

I agree. I am the same and looking forward to those I will meet afterwards. Especially her.
An intelligent poem.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you Ken. i'm honoured to hear you say that. i too was looking forward to my own death while writing this poem. but i could not die yet. there were still things i wanted to do here on earth.