Anonymous

 

I won’t tell who I am

But by the end you’ll know my name

For there will be no doubt in your mind

Regarding my popularity and fame.

I have been around a very long time

How long I wouldn’t even mention

Understand though as you read this

I was before the first invention.

Did I say before the first invention?

Well that is not exactly accurate

Fig leaves came just before I arrived

And then after I had my first date.

I have seen skirmish after skirmish

And I have never missed a war

And the things that you like about life

I most definitely abhor.

I walk among the rich

And I keep company with the poor

With me kings and queens affiliate

Stick around and I’ll tell you some more.

People just love to hate me

And I am blamed for every lost

Insurance companies dare not disregard me

To them I am a significant cost.

I fear no woman, I fear no man

I am not intimidated by girl or boy

The very things that advance their lives

Are often in my employ.

I am older than the oldest man

More relevant than today

And in most of the cases I have tackled

I have mostly had my way.

Young and old are acquainted with me

I have been to every home

I am at ease with the biggest crowd

But I am just as comfortable alone.

It would appear I am omnipresent

And your nature is suited to me

I revelled in hatred and anger

And in human hostility.

I reside in every country

Not a single family escapes me

I have no time to sit on thrones

For I am too busy bringing misery.

I have flown on many a plane

I have crossed every single sea

I have traversed the densest jungles

And the deserts have not escaped me.
 

I make it my business to bring fear

Separation is my portfolio

I am the Minister of distress and harassment

And presided in many an overthrow.

I interrupt the best-made plans

And institute operations of my own

I make mock sport at their projections

From time immemorial my business has grown.

Occasionally I encounter failure

But success is just around the bend

And before you can say cock robin

There is another funeral to attend.

My ads are in every country’s paper

In some tabloids page by page

You’ll never read your name there though

It doesn’t matter your age.

Which brings me to the significant point

That I have never missed a funeral

Some have been simple, some elaborate

Depending on the status of the people.

I am often the talk of the town

For some I guarantee a generous income

Particularly them who live off others dying

But they too have their course to run.

One thing you could say for me

I do not favour or discriminate

There is no amount that you can pay me

And when your time comes you will be the late.

I never take a bribe and I do not grudge

For such I have no need

In any case my quiver is always full

On account of man’s avarice and his greed.

I recall it was the very first spring

And I was privy to a certain conversation

The instructions were clear as clear can be

But the recipients followed another's direction.

From that era until the present time

Every day has been a field day

I have never lacked for victims

For invariably they come my way.

In any endeavour there are highs and lows

And my greatest high was my premiere low

For a moment there I had the Prince of Life

But I was forced to let him go.

Three days I held him in the belly of the earth

I was so sure that he was mine

But suddenly he was no longer there

That experience is difficult to define.
 

I have had two partners throughout time

And we really felt the victory was ours

But my sting was removed and their victory short lived

Swallowed up by His infinite power.

I am the resurrection and the life

The Creator of life once said

And those who put their trust in Him

Will one day be delivered from the dead.

In the meantime I shall continue my business

Working with partners two and three

And taking consolation in the very fact

That I will be around for eternity.

For those who die in the Prince of Life

Will be gathered together with him

And those in him at his return

Will over me the greatest victory win

But those who reject the Prince of life

Will be mine for ever and ever

Eternally separated from their Maker and Judge

Eternal separation from the Saviour

Stewart Russell (@) 2016