I used to tally the years gone by
when life was and nothind but a shame
counting birthdays and making wishes
that things could be better,
life eased but never had I felt it.

and death kept hounding
like a ship's siren, approaching
so I arranged the dead flowers
in a beautiful vase,
trying to find peace out of death
and decay, and the love I sought
to find was slipping away.

at last, I felt death's grip
and never was I afraid,
of the ebon abyss I saw deep
within its piercing stare.

when the silhouette of my ship
was slowly fading away,
I closed my eyes, and said
a little prayer,
hoping whatever awaits
on the other side would be better.

© Lundi Ncuthu