Death: Why We Avoid It…[ Choices; Dying; The Unknown; A Bummer **! ; Personal & Not ] Poem by Bri Edwards

My own death I sometimes ponder.
Will I say, while dying, to ‘1st-Responder' ***:
"Just make me comfortable, if you can;
on Earth I've had a satisfactory lifespan.
I don't want you to work to keep my heart going.
Don't breathe for me if my lungs …..no life is/are showing "?

[ I've got an old tattoo which ‘says', on my hairy chest, …..
that NO CPR is what I think would be best.
Though no guarantee I'd get my way,
perhaps the tattoo will make some sway
from turning me from what I feel is fate:
dying before I live TOO LONG.It's ‘late' …
in my life, and I'm satisfied to depart soon,
though some may think that I'm a "loon",
aka ‘crazy' person! ]

But I, like many, may decide to opt for life,
perhaps because it's the wish of my dear wife.
Damn her (sort of)that she wants me to live …….
'longer than SHE does'. I often "give
in" to her desires.I think I even said "OK",
BUT that was 12 years ago.[ Don't ask the day. ]

Something deep in me makes me feel I should....
have a release …
…from my "promise"; I want to be at peace …
to die when I want to! !

_____


But, enough about ME!How about YOU! ?
If faced with death choices, will you, too,
be comfortable to accept fate's plan?
Or will you object and do what you can …
to halt the process set in motion at ‘Death's door'?
Will you say:"It's not enough!I want MORE! "?

And if you say it, will it be your wish, true,
or will something ‘force' more years on …..YOU?
Will you have surgery or a ‘miracle drug'
, ….to replace an organ or kill a deadly ‘bug'?
[ Why do people often take what will keep …
them living?NOW do you feel I'm ……..
a …"creep" ****? ]

_____


Why do I think "we" avoid death?Reasons vary.

1 - Well, yes! , death to many is SCARY! !

There is often pain; drugs can help perhaps.
One may lose control of body, into coma lapse,
or ‘simply' suffer a loss of one's ‘NORMAL' life,
and, not knowing for SURE what to expect,
....FEAR may be RIFE *****!

2 - And death DISRUPTS others, for example ….a spouse, ….

….children, and others one holds dear,
& to many an eye may bring a tear …........(or many) .
It can disrupt a business, a whole community,
while ‘the dying one' gets off with impunity.

[ So the idea of "letting go" may bring one…..GUILT! ]

3 - If death is by suicide, some say ‘tis a SIN,
and Heaven may not let the dead one in!

4 - And surprise, surprise, some will MISS
what LIFE has brought them and not wish ….
to give it up, not yet!"Bring on the drugs,
the blood, the new organ (donated) .
I'm not ready for Heaven; anyway it may be
overrated! "


[ Well, Readers, there may be other ‘reasons' NOT to die.
Feel free to send to me, Bri, your answer to …"Why? " ]


(November …27th ….2019)


[ I don't say there is any bad/wrong reason to try to stay alive!Is there? ]





** "bummer": (in poem's title-extension) : "informal
1. a thing that is annoying or disappointing"


*** "first(1st) -responder": "(North American)
someone designated or trained to respond to an emergency."


**** "creep": "noun
1.informal
a detestable person"


***** "rife": (adjective) : "(especially of something undesirable or harmful)of common occurrence; widespread"