Aren’t You Dead Yet?

Poetry

Created by Wonder AI with prompts by the author

I’ve killed you in my head and failed so very many times
I’ve set the plans to music and the pain into rhymes
I’ve waited for you after work or in the morning at the gym
I am Death, your oldest friend, it is nice to see you again
I see you in the mornings when the air is thick and sweet
I’ve stalked you for decades, dying for the day we’d meet
I’ve sat next to you for so many years, I’m sad we’ve never met
I only have one thing to ask: why aren’t you dead yet?

Have some mercy with me. This is the first poem I’ve written in almost 35 years, and I’m considerably older now, so poetry is tougher. It was inspired by Lisa Gott‘s wonderful Home of the Muse writing prompt. It was particularly poignant to me because my Mom passed away last year after a long and painful struggle with various cardiac issues. The “Aren’t you dead yet?” part was more or less aimed at doctors who kept her alive and in a lot of pain for far longer than they should have. During the last few weeks of her life, in the hospital, doctors would poke their heads in, and I swear it was to check if she was still alive.

In the poem, Death is quite frustrated as they’re trying to end the person’s suffering but…