A man came knocking at my door one day
just after I had prayed
for someone to take my life from my grasp.
He walked so seamlessly
there was a smoothness
and yet a carelessness about him
like no one I had ever met before.

Decked out in black from head to toe
he stood out from the others.
"Take a walk with me"
he sneered through a sinister smile
keeping a cynical eye on me.

We strolled along the river
and he held my attention
as if it was his own child.
I did not notice as people began
to jump off of bridges
switch out poison for alcohol
because he had my mind in his hand.

Once released from his trance
I looked around
shocked at the things I saw.
No one was left
no one but him and me.
While unnerved by this fact
a strange serenity entangled my body.

This man, his name was Death
and he did answer my prayer.
He removed the situation from me
rather than the reverse.

That evening, he said
"Go play little girl,
and show the world that
Death brought you life."
But there was no one left to show.
No one to tell.
Death taught me a lesson:
be careful what you wish for.

And as if it were meant to be some kind of cruel joke
he left gold for me in his boat.