The Reaper

A meditation on death

The dread of The Reaper

Grows flush with the years,

*

Until it surpasses all

Avoidable fears.

*

Would it not be ironic,

When we come to that place,

*

If he's only a doorman

With a smile on his face?

Author's Note

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.
John Donne

Reviews

[Grant]

You’ve been writing quite a bit about death lately. Love it. Hope you’re doing well.

[Marina]

I think acceptance comes when we make peace with the inevitability of death. It’s more the fear of what we are leaving behind that becomes the reason for our angst.

[Stella Armour]

Hello John,i think we are more acceptant of of death as we grow nearer to it.
Just to hope we have a calm and easy passing towards the beyondness.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Stella. My father had a cardiac arrest in his sleep. There are worse ways to go.

[Marie]

I love your quote from the wonderful Mystic John Donne, dear J. B... Death is only a door which opens for us so we can return home to Spirit whence we came from. I don't know if many people fear death, I think most fear how they will die, nobody wants an agonising death or to linger on in pain. People don't realise how easy it is to leave one's body, totally pain free experience, it's just like floating away and is actually a very beautiful experience. A thought provoking write, dear J. B... Profound inking! Thank you for sharing...

[John the Baptist]

I'd like to have a near death experience, minus the trauma part, of course. Call it a test drive.

[Marie]

It is a very beautiful experience, dear J. B... The trauma doesn't come into it. It's happening but it's not part of the experience. Not easy to describe, but there's complete detachment, like being wrapped in a beautiful blanket of peace!
Enjoy a very wonderful day, dear J. B...

[Lorry]

I shall not dear the reaper. I only hope that I can collect my pipe and slippers first and shall try my best not to greet him with "and what took you so bloody long?"
😃

[John the Baptist]

Don't worry about that last part. I'm sure he's been greeted with worse. Just don't make fun of his hoodie.

[Lorry]

😃 😊 😀 😄 😁 😆 😃

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

this is a fantasic essay that turns midway. the fear of death is something very real, it is something every one of us feels whether they admit to it or not. at the same time, isnt it also true that these fears are unfounded? that death greets us with a smile, that the end of our life is not something we need to dread but welcome? this was profound, intriguing piece written in such a graceful way.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Ern. The great Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius said death is just a natural process and therefore not to be feared. That's good enough for me.

[Coyote Poetry]

In my lifetime. I have met the reaper. He told me. Not your time. I did like the ending. I have learn. Don't worry about death. Be concern about surviving in our new world. Thank you my friend for sharing the entertaining and amazing poetry.
Coyote

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, C. In this plane of existence, everything is naturally temporary. No sense in trying to resist that.