the Reaper's Roses

The Grim Reaper whispered into her ear
"I have a gift for you"
and white roses fell from heaven
she cought them until her arms were full
and she could catch no more,
but many eluded her grasp,
and fell helplessly to the ground
and withered into nothingness.
just then a single black rose,
amid a rain of white flowers,
fell into her arms, and as she looked at it
all the white petals withered away
until only the black rose was left

"These were the days of your life"
said the Reaper of the roses
"The white ones you cought
were the days you siezed, and made good use of.
the white roses you let hit the ground
were days you did not make yours
and so they wasted away, neglected.
the black rose was your death,
which you could not avoid"

When she pondered this, she was sad
and wept for all the roses she did not catch
and all the days she had let slip by.
Then she looked into her hands
and saw the seeds that fell from her arms
into the Earth below.
"These are the good you did with your days.
They will grow into roses themselves,
and be the lasting legacy of your life"
the Reaper then explained.

The woman contemplated this, and was comforted.
tucking the black rose into her hair
she turned to the Grim Reaper
and said "I accept your gift"