maybe i am so used
to keeping an arm’s length
between myself and others
that death settles into the same role
someone i know,
but who keeps a distance
both out of respect for my ways
and for the times i have nearly met it
face-to-face

the lack of existing
the lack of knowledge on the subject
of course is frightening
it is why we are all
a little afraid of the dark, still,
a little afraid of what is around
the next corner

death, however,
i have known since i was a child
it has been there at wakes
at visitations
at final goodbyes once
the bodies have gone cold
and once the parting words
have been spoken

every time it arrives
it keeps a distance
out of respect
for my ways
and for our familiarity

it does not scare me
for my own sake
(i have known it since i was a child)
(i have nearly met it face-to-face)
(i believe it is gentler than we like to think)
(despite the variety of ways it takes us)
but with death
always comes grief
always comes mourning
and that is the harder thing
to meet.