Martha J. Eshelman - Death

Death stands by his closet dressing.
He checks his date book. Twice.

Death dresses in black like a cat burglar,
slinks over the sill
shrinks from the ones with fear
strikes from behind.

Death puts on a red party dress
to dance and fling and lift
in a tango for those with ties.
He lets the refrain play twice.

Death dresses in wedding white
a proud approach with open arms
embraces the ones so weary
they run to meet him.

But for me, death wears a rainbow
a shimmering collage of times.
I pick a strand, unravel, follow
reach its abrupt end.

Martha J. Eshelman

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/death-17/