At Death's Door

By Niharika John

A man, heart wrecked, did cry-

“Oh I, a master at my trade,

a man of the world; that I

shall leave so soon, would be a lie.

The medic said I was fine,

but the devil cannot hide,

the look of pity in his eye.”

Thought he “Death must be such pain

Painful as life already is.

The agony of my heart rains,

and rings in my ears.”

And through the nights he called out,

“I want to live, not die,

So leave me be, monster,

And we shall part with a goodbye.”

Increasingly wretched he grew,

As past him, time flew.

Too tired to howl in pain,

He numbly stared out, at the rain.

“Behind that door, he stands,

or near that window, perhaps.

Death in his kingly robes,

has come here in hopes.”

As his body grew lean, so did his fears.

“From this earth ephemeral,

I must move to kingdom eternal.

Come forth, my friend, my brother,

hold my hand and take me thither.”

And thus he waited, with gleaming eyes,

for the promised death, the promised paradise.

When his sight dimmed slowly,

he smiled faintly,

beneath his eyelids, he floated

in golden light, and he questioned

“Where art thou, my savior,

for whom I wander thither.”

Upon this, a voice bellowed

“Thou art a defiled man,

Thy deeds robed in black.

Unworthy thou art, of salvation

go away, to eternal damnation.”

His eyes snapped open,

though his heart was broken.

“Miracle” the medic called it,

but the man doubted it.

Instead of rejoicing gladly,

He went about in a frenzy.

Alas, such his state became-

The tradesman left his trade,

Farewell to life he bade,

And sitting, staring at the door,

He awaited death, forevermore.

By Niharika John