The Friend Poem by David Knox

Death is a close friend
he hangs his coat up and warms by the fire
even helps around with the house to tend
to all that must be done before he departs and takes you higher
death is fully known
he has an air of certainty
and certainly
I welcome him into me
I'd accept my fate with glee
But Life, Life is the stranger
unexpected, uninvited, uncertain, fraught with danger
Life could be good or evil; the doubt of what is to come
the doubt of the future
all dreams this life could defer
all hopes this life could kill
all love it could will
into death and yet all happiness it may bring
to make even the saddest heart sing
but i take not the risk
and i invite death, that which
is certain and he who is known
Death, o Death you are welcome in my home