Death Holds Lease With Me
As age has assumed space in me
I find myself with a new companion
of no gender, no body, no expiration date
with cutting hardness in his voice,
weight to his chilling touch,
whose name is etched into my gut,
we all have given him a private name
He prefers to move with shadows
his ghosted voice no sound
coating us in a shroud of mourning
as he embraces our beloveds
with deadly tenderness
a forever fastness that does not share
leaves a vacant hollowness in the air
In these late years, he has taken up tenancy
in my most private abode, quietly watchful
muted in daily doings, a hidden contagion
content to wait, colour me with wisdom,
add weight to my voice, create complexity in my laugh,
until someday, somewhere, to some melody
we will do our last dance together
Somewhere Days Are Being Counted
take your precious life into your arms
the way you did when you first met yourself
admire its wrinkles and folds
tap your memory to the beat of your best years
toast every rung on the ladder you’ve climbed
parade through the house
stomp your feet to names you’ve been called
kick up dust from your corners
do-si-do with sorrow and regret
teach the chairs how to dance
sing with the curtains
sashay with the stairs
throw kisses to your umbra
celebrate
as though
you are a note
about to fade!
«RELATED READ» POEMS BY MIKE LARCOMBE: The No-Answer Answer, I Am the Love That I Seek, You Are Not Just You»
image: Pixabay
