The Day I Won't Be Here

 
The moon will hide in cloud-folds, leaning against night's frame,
Evening's lap will find letters of light when the sun sets in flame.
Dew on grass, firefly lamps will glow as they always have done,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.


Every letter of the alphabet will weave nets of spoken word,
Seven notes of the scale will keep time with songs that are heard.
Afternoon will fade to night, and dawn will break again,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.


Still the world will turn just fine, with moon and sun's coming and going,
Venus at dusk, Venus at dawn, will laugh in the wind's flowing.
Kings' politics, market fears—all will go on in tune and discord,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.


My beloved's forehead will find a new vermillion mark by another name,
Birds will fly, flowers bloom, rivers rush... in ready payment's claim.
Moonlight will wash, rain will touch, rainbows smile in their season,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.


Why should all your rituals stop, your worship pause for me?
When busyness ends, just look for me in memory's lost city.
If thinking of me brings tears, it only deepens the wound,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.


O Death, you are immortal, a poet beyond all time,
With one swift brush you erase life's watercolor and rhyme.
Forgetting death, you'll still arrange all currents as before,
Only I will be gone from here, however much you call, my loved ones.