Death

Each night I lie and sleep with death,
Through skin and bones I feel its breath,
I hold my breath and clutch my chest,
Oh, lest I turn and find I face,
The one whom I know waits for me,
She waits and watches as I sleep.
The heater creaks and the clock croaks to a halt,
Time's up too soon and the time is now.
I replay my day but I find no friend
With a deed to lend for me to make amends.
My toes curl up, my time is spent,
My face turns pale, the darkness heaven-sent.
But from beyond the shadows, she retreats for the night and blows me a kiss,
Bequeathing naught but a blinding bliss,
A warm dreaded truth before the next day starts,
In the form of cold, loving whisper as she finally departs:
'In joy, in luck, in pain, in sorrow,
You're made for me and are mine to follow,
You crawl unto me as I run unto you,
Beat the dying day until the same time tomorrow.'