Death asked me to join him for dinner
so I slipped into my favorite black dress
that I had been saving for a special occasion
and let him walk me to our candlelit tryst.
He ordered a ribeye, extra rare
I ordered two desserts and red wine
and then I sipped
and wondered
why he looked so familiar
and smelled like earth and memory.
He felt like a place both faraway
and deep within my body
A place that whispers to me
on the crisp autumn breeze
along the liminal edges of dusk and dawn
somewhere between dancing
and stillness.
He looked at me
with the endless night sky in his eyes
and asked
‘Did you live your life, my love?’
As I swirled my wine in its glass
I wondered If I understood the thread I wove into the greater fabric
If I loved in a way that was deep and freeing
If I let pain and grief carve me into something more grateful
If I made enough space to be in awe that flowers exist
and take the time to watch the honeybees
drink their sweet nectar
I wondered what the riddles of regret and longing
had taught me
and if I realized just how
beautiful and insignificant and monstrous and small we are
for the brief moment that we are here
before we all melt back down
into ancestors of the land.
Death watched me lick buttercream from my fingers
As he leaned in close and said
‘My darling, it’s time.’
So I slipped my hand into his
as he slowly walked me home.
I took a deep breath as he leaned in close
for the long kiss goodnight
and I felt a soft laugh leave my lips
as his mouth met mine
because I never could resist a man
with the lust for my soul in his eyes
and a kiss that makes my heart stop.
- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
of earth & sky 
I read this sitting with my sweetheart of 40+ years. We are old and well and happy but we will meet your “dinner date” soon enough. Tears roll down our cheeks, we found your piece infinitely beautiful . We will meet your date with few regrets.
LikeLike
A powerful visit into a realm most of us fear.
LikeLike
A powerful visit into a realm most fear.
LikeLike
This poem is probably my all time favourite-above Rumi and Mary Oliver. I have worked in the field of death and dying, wrote a book about my experiences of being a hospice counsellor and contemplated death daily for a year and half. Also wrote my dissertation on the subject. This deeply resonates with me and I can’t thank you enough.
LikeLike
whaaaaaat a delicious offering
I FEEL
when I read these words
I
FEEL
I PAUSE
and my breath slows and deepens
thank you SO very much for your offerings
Shelli Niedens
LikeLike
Good gracious, you write the most beautiful things.
LikeLike
Gina that was pure genius. I loved it from start to finish.
LikeLike
Gina,
I want to thank you for this poem! I’m 60 and have been thinking back on my life and my losses. This poem touched me in a way I can not describe to you. I bought your book of poetry and was very sorry to find it was not included. Where can I find this?
LikeLike
Hi Robin! Thank you so much for this reflection and feedback.
My book is a couple years old now, and I just wrote this last week! It will be in my next collection, but I am also thinking of offering some prints.
LikeLike