Coughing Up Death Poem by Robin Bennett

I tried to drink the salt water
of the ocean
that day-
another desperate attempt
to leave this earth
instead of a drowning
death, I drowned
in my sorrow

Salty waters or salty tears?
Even the lifeguard
didn't care-
Instead of death
I got burned

Even the jellyfish-
find me useless
A biting sting as usual
Just another reason
to get-
pissed on

Instead of a cold
slab-
I found myself
laid out on
a cheap
beach towel

No good death
cheaters began
to resurrect
me-
I coughed
up my-
salty death
only to once
again breath
the stench
again of
life-