Birth is a gift of life
a lifeforce gifted
to the world.
Death is the removal
a lifeforce recalled
into the fold.
The Swiss painter
Arnold Böcklin
knew it well.
He paints himself
with death playing
it’s violin.
Reminding everyone
our death looms
not far away.
Not threatening us
but paying music
and waiting.
To collect all of us
when we expire
bring us home.
A.G. Munson
