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

[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...

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

a great reader is harder to find than a great writer. you are both. you're absolutely correct i was not meleancholic, rather i was in the process of accepting fate. very pleased and impressed you picked that up.

[Marie]

Most welcome always, Ern...

[AYVID]

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.

[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.

[andrew mitchell]

Great work, well written, you capture the very essence of life while embracing its fragility and the final outcome.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks Andrew. yes, i think you picked up exactly what i was feeling at the time.

[...Relic...]

For a poet, often times out of depression and darkness comes profound poetry. This is one of them.
I'm reminded of the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas.
It is strong emotion that bleeds upon the page. I believe you've done that with this poem.

Excellent writing, Ern.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks Relic. Thomas is fantastic, but i'm not sure if i agree with him. i like to think i can graciously accept my end, when it comes. but perhaps i lack the zest for life he did.

[Dave W.]

My dude, this was really great, I guess this is the one appointment none of us will miss. I love the heavy things of life and this is as real as it gets. Thankyou.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

Dave -- thanks for your comment! it is very encouraging

[John the Baptist]

Interesting that this piece was written during a depressive episode. I used to work with many depressed people, and the obsession with death was strong among them. Though there is no overt mention of it, I imagine the speaker had suicidal thoughts while this offering was being written.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

indeed i was. but i was also always ... not obsessed but conscious of the fact I will die. around the time of writing, a part of me wanted to die but i began trying to imagine what would happen after. which is of course, impossible.