How Does One Prepare To Die?

How does one prepare to die?
Dread.
Unexplored worlds,
with no tourist guide.

Will last moments be filled
with regrets overripe,
too late for picking;
like noticing the shake
in your surgeon’s hand
a second before
the gas kicks in?

Who are these people
hoping to go
surrounded by the ones
they love the most -
have they never bowed to
Mr. Squirrel convulsing
at the edge
of the curb, overcome
by fascinated pity,
wanting simultaneously to
comfort and allow him dignity?

I imagine it might be
like ending up
an unpaid entertainer
at your own birthday party,
trying to please
and smile
and remember your manners;
careful not to show disappointment
or the nausea threatening to
flood your throat

…a landmark on your existence
without the privacy required
for personal reflection.

Surely this is the one time

that masks should be

permitted to slip;

 

a final self-evaluation.

  

Author's Note

I really want to make this piece better. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Reviews

[Ivy]

Well written and deep.My favorite part is the last stanza,"Will last moments be filledwith regrets overripe,too late for picking;like noticing the shakein your surgeon’s handa second beforethe gas kicks in?"Even though it is only two stanzas long, the last one is one I think that inspires true thought on the subject.Again, wonderfully written.

[Meet Lola, The Better H..]

Hmmm. This was interesting. It was good, though there were a few places where I was having a hard time figuing out how this related. The "Mr. Squirrle" bit was great, I loved that, but it seemed random... If you had coninued on the same line of though afterwards it would have made sence, But it's like you introduced a new idea and wern't sure about it so skipped back to what you were talking about before.

The last stanza was another one that didn't quite make sence. I loved it, I loved the sudden switch in pace but it was too sudden and too short to make sence.... lol sorry I'm not making sence right now

the ; that O talked about I think is wrong. There you're more going off on a tangent, describing the first clause and so the use of a dash would be better...

Okay now that that technical stuff is out of the way. I loved the idea behind this poem. But like you said in the little commenty thing above, it's not quite there yet. It's sorta like the idea and the poem havn't matured enough. They need time almost to fill out?

Wow I'm just babbling. Sorry! Hope you were able to understand at least a little of this jibberish

[O!]

OMGoodness!!.......I wouldnt want that to be my last moment......horrifying!!

WHat I really like about the poem is how the stanza's took control over my thoughts and directed them differently.......
the first stanza made my thoughts expand.......open up to what may be.....curious, anxious, excited, bewildered.......scared......
and the second stanza made my thoughts stagnate a bit....just like my breathing...coz it was a few seconds before the end......no more time for free-will thinking...but only for the facts.......

i think the ; works....though im not great at punctuation, i think u should also ask a few others :-)

i think this was a very very good poem......going to my library.....for sure!

x,
O!

[James K. Blaylock]

i really liked reading your poem. a fear of death is something that most people can't help but feel. i know i think about it far too often.