A Poem - The Breath of Death

Shh
Shh
Shhhh
The breath of death
is in the air.
Be silent!
Have a care
To listen.
Listen as the angel passes.

Wait
Wait
Wait
Be still and know
The pale rider goes
Forth again
And again
And again
Claiming souls.

Oh
Oh
Oh
A Spirit on the wind
With sicknesses to send
Draws near
Softly snuffing the candles.

Hear
O
Hear
The deep death rattle,
Riding low in the chest.
Do not buffer with prattle,
Wisdom gone un-guessed;
To count
To number
To calculate
Our days a right.

No
No
No
I do not wish to know
What the grave can show
To the living.
Let it speak of shadows
Oozing darkness into hearts.

But
But
But
Perhaps the word we miss
Coming from the tomb is
Live!
Live!
Live!
While life may be had.

Take
Take
Take
Take this day
For the breath of death
Is in the air.

There is no promise for tomorrow,
Though there is hope thereafter.