Death Is Not a Friend

Death is not a Friend Death is not a friend I try to deny it But I know that in my moments of need he’s done nothing for me Death has never kindly greeted me in the hallways Death was not the one who silently sat with me at lunch for a month, keeping me company in a time where every face that I saw was unfamiliar Death has never sent me a message late at night letting me know that I was on his mind Death has never stayed up with me on the phone until the darkest hours of the morning came to light Death has never found me crying on the staircase and brought me carrot sticks or taught me broken sign language Death has never waited with me in a deserted parking lot talking about poetry until my ride came to pick me up, her headlights disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the late fall evening Death has not laughed with me Death has not brought me joy but only in the darkest of moments where each droplet of it that fell on my tongue was like ecstasy Death has hugged me but only too tightly Death and I have embraced but only too briefly Death has caused tears but only those of agony Death has followed me everywhere Death has witnessed my best and worst Death has always and will always be there But death is not a friend