Of Death and Mourning

  By Ashen Nox

The peaceable shroud of Death has been cast over my brow; a welcome abatement from the chaos of existence. The Reaper’s inevitable caress, anticipated kiss, has now passed and I lie still slowly rotting and devoid of purpose. Eternity awaits in a bleak void of nothing.

A solemn farewell on a cold, gray and bitter mourning. I lie posed and displayed in false cosmetic presentation among the brokenhearted. Tears stale upon the cheeks of those who still yet carry the warmth of life within their beating hearts, as they bid au revoir to me, the departed.

The Reaper softly rasps into my ear This is the coldest truth of life; heartbreak, loss, regret, and strife

As those left behind choke upon their nostalgic words and fumble with distant memories of times past, I lie rigid and ashen; deaf to their heartfelt words and blind to their exhibits of commiseration.

The Reaper derisively rasps into my ear They laugh and cry for you they’ve lost but life it comes with heavy cost.

The funeral procession marches in solemn bearing to meet before vacant earth to repose my remains in hallow grave. Scripture is recited to appease the pipe dreams of those who hold on to superfluous faith in some grand design and purpose.

The Reaper sternly rasps into my ear They speak of Heaven glory bright but Death is glory none but night.

With final farewell the gritty moist earth is cast upon my eternal resting chamber. The weeping and lamenting depart to gather elsewhere on this desolate day and distract themselves from the frigid truths of existence.

The Reaper harshly rasps into my ear They cannot truly face this terrible facet of creation, so they distract themselves with honored celebration.

The damp soil is heaped heavily into the grave, it’s weight pressing down upon the lid of my coffin causing it to moan and creak, this is my eternal cocoon. The settling dirt drowns out the light and turmoil of the world above bringing with it the quiet tranquil darkness.

The Reaper kindly rasps into my ear This is where you’ll forever be, lost in nothing for all eternity. Don’t you fret, as you can see, you have me as company.

An empty darkness is all around me as I sit on the edge of existence, perception of time is lost as lifetimes pass by. Those I’ve loved succumb to the same shared fate of all living things, the same inevitable fate I suffered. There is no kingdom of gold here, nor any eternal paradise to reward those who’ve labored and remained in reverent faith their entire lives. Only darkness…

Cold… empty… lonely darkness…

Copyright © 2013 Matthew DeLucia