The Relentless Stalker

Death--a relentless stalker--

Never leaves us alone

Until he once and for all

Makes us one of his own.

 

We think that we elude him.

Although our defenses are weak,

We try to play a fruitless

Game of hide and seek.

 

He knows every refuge--

Every hiding place--

And hates it when we spurn

His unwelcome embrace.

 

"Death, be gone!" we say.

"For you I have no use.

Your never-ending threats

Are nothing but abuse."

 

"Can't you see," says he,

"That I’m determinative?

Only because of me

Are you able to live."

 

Lurking in the shadows,

He hopes that we'll forget

To heed our inner warnings

Acknowledging him as a threat.

 

His efforts to cajole us

Into succumbing are steady.

He demands our compliance

Whether or not we're ready.

 

When he takes our hand,

The best that we can do

Is stare him down and say,

"I'm not afraid of you!"

 

-by Bob B (1-2-20)