In His Last Breath

A distant wail, a spirit cried “Too short a life! , too short a life!” A piercing sound in the dead of night “Too short a life! , too short a life!” My candle lit to seek the sight I leaned at the sill to look outside He looked at me straight, looked in my eyes, “ Too short a life! , too short a life!” Clad in black and made in bone His eyes like jewels no man had known A scythe in hand perfectly honed He stood determined, he stood alone I knew him from the books and lore A figure that men and women abhorred The final vision for those that go, An appointment kept and never ignored. “ Is it I, who you seek?” To him I asked Knowing at heart, the reapers task He nodded yes, my time had passed Now any breath would be my last Give me a moment, I said to him Let me remember my friends, my kin remember my righteousness, remember my sin Let me remember who I have been He stood his ground, I closed my eyes A saw a man that I had left behind... A man who loved and lived a life And not just toiled for food and wine I saw a love that Walked away When the mission of life was debts to pay I saw my days they all looked the same A promising journey that turned mundane I heard their words of wise advice In being like the others I took great pride The way of the world to all applies I never saw the truth, behind their lies. And now I stood there, and the end of the line Lamenting the lost opportunity of time The scythe struck as I opened my eyes As my spirit cried, “Too short a life, too short a life”