BENEATH THE LEMON TREE
Life is sweet
In the belly of the beast,
In the belly of the beast
- Stay Young Go Dancing, Death Cab For Cutie
I began this poem on a whim, just a couple of lines which tickled my fancy because they are different from most poems I write. Also, I had no clue as to where they’d go. It was fun to write out line by rhyming, metered line here and there until finding the ending.
Death kindly came to visit me, and though I first was scared,
He has a busy schedule, so to come must mean he cared.
He stood beneath the lemon tree, which never does grow fruit.
The summer sun shone brightly down as we eyed each other, mute.
"For what do I owe the pleasure?" I said, to break the ice.
Though I, for sure, was feeling more of dread than something nice.
"Forthwith will come a reaping," whispered his rumbling reply.
"And you alone, of those you love, will from the wreckage fly."
"You'll spare me?" stumbled out my words, attempt to comprehend.
"Unless you wish it otherwise; one part I can amend."
"Those I love will pass away, unto your reaping grim,
Yet I can choose to go or stay?" I stared in shock at him.
He nodded, small eternity; his movement was so slow.
Beneath his garment, truest black, his face I'd never know.
"And why am I to have this choice?" Bold words for one weak-kneed.
"That part is just for me to know," he said, no tone to read.
"You must decide this very hour," he stated straight as true.
"And no one can decide your fate save in this moment you."
I felt the future loneliness, the weeping and the pain.
If those I love would pass away - would grief drive me insane?
I thought, "I surely couldn't live with life so changed, alone.
Yet would I really choose to die? Go into the unknown?"
In that moment I surrendered, thinking, "Yes, take me, I'll go.
Accept death's invitation and brave what I do not know."
I felt the piercings of the world; the hate, the pain, the fear.
A door away from all of it was suddenly so near.
A breeze blew in, and from the movement of the leafy boughs,
I glimpsed a flash of yellow which strong feelings did arouse.
"A lemon," murmured to myself, struck somewhat aghast.
"For seven years I've waited, thinking hope for fruit had passed."
Perhaps life holds as much unknown as death, in its own way.
Right then for me the more courageous choice would be to stay.
"I read the choice within your eyes," Death graveled unto me.
"I'll honor your decision when the time has come to be."
Lest I had time to doubt or pass my intuition by,
Death vanished like a plume of smoke beneath the sunny sky.
A week went by, a month; I wondered what each day might bring.
My wild imagination pulling hard on my heart strings.
"Forthwith" said Death, though what that means for mortals, you and I,
Has yet to be uncloaked, for since he spoke, a year's gone by.
So, I've accepted that one day, like lightning from the blue,
I'll feel a shock of grief and loss unlike I ever knew.
Yet, each day holds surprises which make our hearts stop or race.
All the unknowns are part of this life's balancing and pace.
Death's words were like a fortune teller reading from my palm.
Amid life's waves I take them as the storm within the calm.
They may come true or they may change, for it's not up to me.
Simply accept and live one’s best; that's how I'll chose to be.
