Mark Bratlie

DEATH...
... reap grimly
... be not proud
... prepare for battle
... go gently
... pass over
... come again another day

... or...

sits on my shoulder
and softly counsels me
so that my spirit
may be tempered

helps me to remember
the smell of broken twigs
and fallen leaves
back-there-now

teaches me to
tie such things together
and make them
ever-now-then

and gently reminds me to
savor this thing called life
while whispering
"be like your eyes-open"