A Curious Interview

Once, while slumb'ring, deep in dreams,
I saw a wand'ring shadow.

With grace, he strode across the land,
and met me in the meadow.

His face, of mournful sighing sung,
of eidolons bespoke.

Wind, in grim storm-breezes blew,
and moved his tattered cloak.

"Come," then said the ancient creature,
"The time is come for leaving."

"Must I," then asked I to the shadow,
"Leave everyone so grieving?"

"Indeed," the fiend in but a whisper
was softly then replying.

"Death," then said I with a shudder,
"Shall you ever be dying?"

"Alas!" the withered shade then answered,
"Immortal am I ever,

"for I, the bearer of all others,
shall myself be borne never!

"Rest! But to enjoy it singly!
To taste some respite only!"

"Death," said I, "Companion of us all,
are you forever lonely?"

"My task," said he, "Is but mine own;
there shall be no replacing;

I am, the only one to bring them,
all human lives erasing."

Tears, if tears they might be called,
then fell from his face slowly.

"A shame," said I, with sympathy in heart,
"that you should be so lowly."

"I carry on," he said, quite businesslike.
"The time has come, my friend."

Then, I took his hand, now certain,
and never dreamed again.



-D.B.