Fear Not, Death

Fear not death
when it comes for you.
Death is not a monster,
not even a master, but
a servant having no more
choice in the taking of you
than you have in the going.

And if you are defiant,
telling lonely Death,
'By my hand, not yours
I will set my fate!',
Death will smirk, laugh
and say without rancor:
'Take my job,please!
It has never given me
a moment's pleasure--
to be forever feared,
hated, despised when
all I have ever done
was to open a door.

But know, proud human
(the only animal who
dares dispute my work),
when YOU turn the knob,
yes, to eternity's door--
it may not lead you
to the same place
as when I open it....'

I knew his meaning,
responded contritely:
'Fear not, Death--
I will not resist
your silent coming.
I know who issues
your deadly orders.
Forgive us humans
for our denial, for
we keep forgetting
that we exist always,
and this this life is
but a scratch in time.'


(c.2014)

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Your words ring deep within my spirit as one who often writes of death, knowing that with its arrival, one's suffering, agony, hopelessness and so many other emotions I cannot list them in their entirely here, comes to an end. But, I do believe it is with death and death alone that we find eternal life; death to self, and then mortal death.

I believe in Heaven and Hell, and that the way to Heaven is through our Lord Jesus Christ. There are certainly those times that I question why so much pain in walking this human life, but answers I find only in my faith. This is what allows me to carry on.

I agree with you that we are the only animals who question death, as we have been given free will to live as we choose. Your last lines tell me that we acknowledge who sends death, and the request for forgiveness, as we forget we exist in the earthly realm but for a speck in time.

I am impressed by your words, and will be back to read more. I was unaware of your work, having just learned of it through the review you have posted to the essay of my mentor, Rick Puetter concerning why do we believe. I have been contemplating my response to his essay for a few days, and am not quite ready to respond as of this time, but I know I shall.

Best Regards,
Sheila Kline

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you Sheila for your kind words-- I neglected to mention that I myself found God when I almost drowned at 24 (45 years ago!) and had what has come to be called since then a near-death experience. So yes, heaven and hell are real 'places' (I can personally attest to the reality of one of them) and what we do in this world matters very, very much. And though I am a Christian (not a very good one I think), and love Jesus for the man he was--is, I cannot accept the literal interpretation of salvation being only for people of our faith. For God must be a far, far better-- and fairer 'person' than we are or, believe me, we are all in trouble. But Jesus is, however, the conduit to paradise I believe, for his message was the epitome of lucid simplicity: love God with all your heart and love others as you do yourself. And THAT message is at the core of Judaism and Islam as well (and if you look, maybe at the heart of Hinduism and Buddhism also). But what both believers and non-believers often do not understand is that we need to worship God not for His sake-- I am sure He could get by without us in His vast worlds--but for our sake. For we are broken beings, every one of us--call it 'sinner' or 'neurotic' or 'screwed-up' or just not very happy, but none of us are complete, none of us are whole. The question then is, how do we fix ourselves, either individually or in the aggregate as when peoples go to war? For me at least, the answer has been through what for many is just a cliche: by the grace of God. Sometimes (rarely) it has taken a direct form but most often it comes through the interaction with other people; and it started with the man, a stranger, who pulled me out of a Vermont river almost half a century ago.

[Sheila Kline]

Your are welcome! I am deeply touched by your words, and impressed by your thoughts concerning life and death. Thank God for the stranger who pulled you out of a Vermont River. He obviously played a phenomenal part in your walk of life since that moment.

[Nolo Segundo]

Yes Sheila, he did-- unfortunately I only located him a few years ago, and had planned on meeting him 'in person' after I recovered from double hip surgery but he passed away before I could do so. But the great thing about faith is we know we can get a second chance:the moment I read the email from his wife telling me he had passed, I had the definite feeling I would meet him in the next world. And I still have that feeling.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

great poem thanks again for entering my competition

[Robert Trakofler]

love the voice in this Nolo!!!! all around like this.... structure, flow and meaning. This clever conversation with death was a refreshing perspective nice nice nice

[Nolo Segundo]

Yes my friend,let's hope death is as nice in person when he comes to call. [also like your comments at the geek squad --what ever happened to Friday Forum???]

[Robert Trakofler]

I think someone was sending me nasty notes or something

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

brilliant poem and very spiritual, thanks for entering my competition, good luck loved it

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you, J.