A Stranger Came Calling And Death Was His Name. Poem by Steve Ricketts

A stranger came calling the other day, he stood in the doorway and argued with me. Death was his name or so he did say, so I stopped him from coming right in, but as we argued, a trick he did play, although I was trying with all my might, to stop this intruder from leaving my sight, for when I did turned, all I that could see, was this shadowy figure, saying come, come with me.

Struggle to hold him I did try, all of my efforts were proved in vain, from stopping him taking my Love one away and then he did tell me something of a surprise, as he sat down beside me and looked in my eyes, he said no do not worry for this is no end, all I am doing is being a good friend. Just look at this Women who once stood so proud, can you not see all the trouble she is in, surely for goodness, am I not being kind, how could she not want all this misery to end, I bring an end to all the pain that she seen, so surly it is best now if she come with me.

For then we did talk for how long I do not know, before I could realise he said we have to go, now hear me please for I want you to know, this empty vessel for that you do grieve, is not the one that you hold so dear, now listen please, for I know what‘s best, now there’s no pain at last she is at rest, so all I say is just leave her to be, although not your wish, the truth you can see, for your dear Love one’s not gone away. She dwells in your heart, and there she must stay, for no better place have I ever seen, for her no age or pain will be seen. So please let her rest and stop this fighting with me.

Now days are passing too fast to behold, and often I drawn back to the story he told, and when I’m alone of this I’ll still think, to help remember the Love of my life. Her face won’t be forgotten, for it’s burned in my soul, my memories of her I’ll still have hold, then when I’m sleeping her name I still call, for these feelings, so tender and kind, all I want now is to be by her side, if I close my eyes and think of her now, how she was tender kind and so wise, all the things that are precious and rare, how could I have thought that she won’t be there, forever before me for all my days long, the one thing it’s taught me, I’ll say without fear, never take for granted the ones you hold dear.

Next time I see him, I know be a while. I know how to greet him, it will be with a smile, then together we’ll walk right to the end. As for the story he told unto me, surely I’ll see, far better to be taken than live in abject misery. Whilst alive I will honour her name, for all the love that she’s given to me. Never forgetting all her ways fair and kind. All that she taught me all through my life. Never complaining although pain to see. Forever the model for me to attain, what better way could there be, then to copy the example that she left for me.