Death

Death,

come to me slowly

and stand besides me

like a friend

for I will have lived fully

by the time you come.

Or,

stand in attention

like an enemy

and let us fight

till the end of eternity

before you take my soul.

But,

do not creep up suddenly

and take me with

a treacherous knife in my back

like a wretched, unwary man.

Death,

fight me like an enemy

or greet me as a friend

but be not a stranger

when you take me in the end.