The Visitor

I had met him before

But not personally

Now he was at my door

Most definitely.

At the most inopportune time

I heard the gentle tap

I was about to dine

So I just opened the flap.

I told him it was late

I wasn’t prepared that day

He said he’d checked the date

That was all he had to say.

I marveled at his timing

Didn’t matter I was dining

His head perceptively inclining

Inviting me to join him.

“Not now!” I insisted

My plea he simply resisted

And though I had persisted

Declared me then enlisted.

I called him an intruder

A rank and total outsider

Telling me what to do

Imposing on me his view.

Of all the things to interrupt

A man’s meal, his drink, his cup

Not even willing to delay

But on me forcing his way.

You’ve no say in the matter

Away with all the chatter

That time has finally come

Signed and sealed, it’s done.

Thought I would entertain him

A good meal to him I gave

Only to find I couldn’t win

His face was stern and grave.

I made another offer

Of someone who was old

He dismissed it as a bother

The night was getting cold.

With dread I tried again

To suggest another name

The drunkard up the street

Would make a better treat.

His head again he swayed

Much to my dismay

“Not the drunkard up the street

It’s you I must repeat.

Well I hoped he wouldn’t deny

If I took another try

That rapist up in prison

Why can’t his life be taken?

Again he shook his head

And then he gravely said

His time will come I am sure

But you must go before.

A glance at the long list

Revealed my name at top

Took a chance I dare not miss

But that became a flop.

Trying the order to bend

I wrote my name at the end

But the order he’d not forgotten

And started from the bottom

“It’s your time,” he reaffirmed

And your date I have confirmed

Doesn’t matter how you squirm

Tonight ends your earthly term.

No amount of pleading

Will see your time receding

Pay attention to my heeding

Follow me; I’ll do the leading.”

On all the other occasions

I had watched him function

And while expressing my sympathy

Still happy it wasn’t me.

Now my visit had come

Way past the setting sun

Light and life away they ebbed

Soon I’ll lay cold and dead.

Death the fairest equalizer

The most potent tranquilizer

An insensitive family divider

A most unwelcomed visitor.

Doesn’t matter where you are

Could be near or even far

Could be rich or even poor

He’ll walk right up to the door.

He called at mine today

How I wished I’d been away!

I could broker no delay

Now cold in the ground I lay.

Stewart Russell © 2014