Death's Cornucopia

She faced Death saying
'I've rolled up all the roads
traveled on my life's highway

I've burned all my dilapidated bridges
to light my way

seeing Dim Death there
my future on his map

I'm wrapped up
in my many past circumstances
making peace
now this
my Ethereal Last;

all my visions
now prodigal
paying all my past dues-

shedding too
my Surly Life Illusions

placing them among
my many compromised dreams;

before me now only
the unseen
dark-
stretching away
toward that yawning, ultimate abyss;

toward our ultimate separation-
a separation we have never known;
we two
facing now this wrenching goodbye;
this, ' she said 'is the hardest part;

the leaving of
of our youth,
the photographs
the laughter
we've known
the children set now
on their own
path.

That done
you with me
Now is all
I need
to turn my eyes to that dark
undeterred
and brave."

He said

'Death's Cornucopia
can be
as we wrap ourselves
in our memories
to help us glide
gently
to that other side

but know, ' he said,
'that is
in body only;
our Spirits surely
join before
making a bridge
across
making us whole again
on that other side
across Death's Divide."

 
She died 
with a faint smile.
 

He there
to the last
holding her hand.