As I Lay Dying Poem by Rich Reitz

Graduation.
Such a great day.
So wonderful to be alive.

Dad hands me a special delivery letter.
opening it, I read, 'Greetings from the President...'

Now, I'm half a world away,
Trying to move silently
Through the heavy undergrowth
With the five other guys on my team.

From nowhere come fireflies blinking,
Surrounding us on all sides.
How strange, I think,
In the middle of the afternoon.

A rude shove in the back.
I look at my teammates
And silently wonder,
'Who punched me? '

Asking myself, 'Why do I feel so wet?
Not raining. The sun is shining.'
Suddenly feeling very tired and weak;
Unable to stand.

As I slowly sink to the ground
A loud roar engulfs me;
All the colors of the jungle and sky
Swirl about me.

On the ground, I notice
The temperature becomes icy;
The world grows silent
And the swirling colors fade into darkness....

As I lay dying.