Death

Death

my old acquaintance 

when you come

I’ll be looking you 

in the eye

the coffee is going

to be hot 

and I’ll offer you

the best chair, the one

that we all fight over

not to delay

the inevitable end

not to buy off 

your gift of oblivion 

but simply that 

I believe 

friendship helps us 

cross bridges

and I don’t want 

to travel 

with a stranger.