L Milton Hankins Poet Free verse

Death, Come Not As a Stranger

Death, come not as a stranger to our town
[drawing the glances of the common folk
with downcast eyes, abundance of fear]
But expected by those who suffer much
And welcomed like an old, distant friend
Whom they have seen from time to time.
Death, come not as a stranger to our town
But like one rescuing from pain and suffering
For you, we know, bring the ultimate healing
Why will you slink about furtively receiving?
For all humanity knows your gentler touch
The last sighing breath when earth is done.
Did not Jesus welcome you, “It is finished!”
May we accept you openly, life replenished. 

Written April 11, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger April 12, 2022 at 1:11 PM "May we accept you openly" - I am sure ready to! I have a feeling the after death experience is Nirvana! L Milton Hankins April 12, 2022 at 1:47 PM I suppose we won't know until we get there, but I suspect you are absolutely right.

Bill Baker April 12, 2022 at 7:27 AM All things work together for good; when we work together all things have a better chance of being good. Life and death of the physical body are a duality. We should accept what comes our way and learn from both the perceived good and bad life experiences. Thanks for sharing your poetry with us Milt. Have a great week! Bill L Milton Hankins April 12, 2022 at 8:58 AM Thank you so very much, Bill. I enjoyed your insightful response to this particular poem.

John Lawless April 11, 2022 at 4:38 PM Milton, you're making the "hooded skull carrier" blush Beautifully written with the yin/yang mastery. L Milton Hankins April 11, 2022 at 5:37 PM Thanks so much, John, for your very thoughtful comment on my poem.

Marco Chies April 11, 2022 at 2:23 PM A creative poetry, Milton, which brings an attenuating vision of the arrival of death, I really liked this text. L Milton Hankins April 11, 2022 at 2:46 PM Thanks so much, Marco. We have this vision of death as a hooded skull carrying a scythe. I'd like to think we'd be better served to see Death as a beautiful angel delivering us from the burdens we can no longer carry. I doubt seriously the majority will ever come around to my way of thinking.