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Description
"Empty Boxes, Empty Bones"
by Kevin Breakstone

Once upon a night forgotten
I pondered death and bodies rotten
Housed beneath the grass and stone
Empty boxes, empty bones.

I asked myself, to my surprise
If I was sure that my demise
Were hiding ‘round tomorrow’s bend
What would I do before the end?

My heart convulsed, my stomach squirmed
I rubbed my skin to fight off worms
And beetles, maggots, white as sheep
That graze upon the final sleep.

Alarmed, I stood, and right behind
Not just a figment of my mind
Was Death, yes Death, in all his glory
Conclusional stanza to life’s short story.

Oh, the horror that wrapped my brain
In ghastly nightmare cellophane
My breath escaped on batlike wings
No man should ever see such things!

My mind fell flaccid, my heart was dust
My blood had dried and turned to rust
My soul surrendered, I lowered my hands
My feet knew better- and thus I ran.

With a cry I pierced the night
Hoping to escape Death’s godly sight
But traitor Moon, with wide-eyed glee
Turned spotlight center, towards me.

I sighed and sobbed in my defeat
And stomped the grass beneath my feet
The wind that whispered by my head
Refused atonement for my dread.

And suddenly it came to mind
That God himself is very kind
To keep such secrets from you and I
So no Man knows when he will die.

Therefore, with this knowledge learned
I wiped away the tears and turned
And laughter spilled from out my mouth
For Death had stayed within my house!

He sighed and shook his shadowed head
And, pointing my way, presented
An hourglass, scribed with my name
But half its fateful sand remained!

Oh the joy and bliss that burst
Within my brain, like fireworks
I still had time! I was not doomed!
“Goodbye Death! Won’t see you soon!”

I do not know if Death can laugh
But as he raised his bladed staff
I swear I heard, as clear as day,
A graven, gravelly “Heh, heh, heh.”

And with that laugh, Death was gone
Vanished with the rising sun
Away he went, but left with me
A oddly morbid passivity.

So now when I am in the mood
To sit and ponderously brood
If I knew my death- be car or cancer-
What would I do… well, let my smile be the answer.

Description
"Empty Boxes, Empty Bones"
by Kevin Breakstone

Once upon a night forgotten
I pondered death and bodies rotten
Housed beneath the grass and stone
Empty boxes, empty bones.

I asked myself, to my surprise
If I was sure that my demise
Were hiding ‘round tomorrow’s bend
What would I do before the end?

My heart convulsed, my stomach squirmed
I rubbed my skin to fight off worms
And beetles, maggots, white as sheep
That graze upon the final sleep.

Alarmed, I stood, and right behind
Not just a figment of my mind
Was Death, yes Death, in all his glory
Conclusional stanza to life’s short story.

Oh, the horror that wrapped my brain
In ghastly nightmare cellophane
My breath escaped on batlike wings
No man should ever see such things!

My mind fell flaccid, my heart was dust
My blood had dried and turned to rust
My soul surrendered, I lowered my hands
My feet knew better- and thus I ran.

With a cry I pierced the night
Hoping to escape Death’s godly sight
But traitor Moon, with wide-eyed glee
Turned spotlight center, towards me.

I sighed and sobbed in my defeat
And stomped the grass beneath my feet
The wind that whispered by my head
Refused atonement for my dread.

And suddenly it came to mind
That God himself is very kind
To keep such secrets from you and I
So no Man knows when he will die.

Therefore, with this knowledge learned
I wiped away the tears and turned
And laughter spilled from out my mouth
For Death had stayed within my house!

He sighed and shook his shadowed head
And, pointing my way, presented
An hourglass, scribed with my name
But half its fateful sand remained!

Oh the joy and bliss that burst
Within my brain, like fireworks
I still had time! I was not doomed!
“Goodbye Death! Won’t see you soon!”

I do not know if Death can laugh
But as he raised his bladed staff
I swear I heard, as clear as day,
A graven, gravelly “Heh, heh, heh.”

And with that laugh, Death was gone
Vanished with the rising sun
Away he went, but left with me
A oddly morbid passivity.

So now when I am in the mood
To sit and ponderously brood
If I knew my death- be car or cancer-
What would I do… well, let my smile be the answer.