Pre-Mortem Poem by Lora Colon

Death is biting at my heels
Like a mongrel that broke its chains,
Depart, you thief of cherished bones!
You've no right yet to my remains

Stifle your unwelcome chant,
Your song's outworn, and I reject it,
Of course, I know you'll change your tune
Some night when I least expect it

Then you'll give some lame excuse,
As any deceitful villain would,
Ramble on, vicious thief of life,
Though your prattle does me no good

You always win your battles,
By no regulations are you bound,
I'll object, but you'll still drag me
To your lair deep into the ground

Though despised by one and all,
Some cruel law has given you free reign
To decide when our broken bodies
Shall invade the earthworm's domain

And we must obey, we've no choice,
Not the bold, not the meek, nor the mild,
Indiscriminate is the soil,
Taking all..... man, woman and child

And when the last trumpet sounds,
Not a drop of mercy do you show,
Up you jump, eager to collect
All that's due you.... and down we go!