My Dear Lady Death

By Omar Jawed Shaikh

My dear lady death, I wait for you.

Take me in your embrace

Turn my heart cold and my mind calm

Guide me, like you guide those before me to the vast golden fields

I wait for you to take me away with your gentle kiss.

But my dear, please wait.

My lady, I still have things to do in this world.

For I am a man... the lineage of dear Adam and Eve

I have been born with a duty to my kind.

I descend from the man who spoke to God,

I descend from the man who conquered this world,

I descend from the man who touched the moon.

Forgive me dear, but I have a duty I must fulfill

I have worlds to Conquer and live to change.

I have yet to make love and have a child to raise.

I have yet to make my name known to my children and their lineage yet to come.

I have still too much breath left in me, and too many responsibilities my dear.

But my dear if you please wait

A day will come when I will have fulfilled my responsibilities.

And at the time, when my mind will me slow but filled with happy memories

And my heart will beat slow yet with fulfillment.

I will hope to see you by me.

Please hold my hand and come closer to me so I can see you clearly with my weak eyes.

And please tell me that I have fulfilled my duty to my kind.

And in that moment,

please brush your hand through my hair...

caress my cheek....

and when I take my final breath....

bless me... with our gentle kiss...

By Omar Jawed Shaikh