I Offer My Throat Poem by Ted Sheridan

Anxiety filled heartbeats
make it hard to swallow
the all consuming fear

that is felt when you
meet with Death
face to face

for the first time
inhaling the smell of it
deep into your lungs

feeling its cold hands
touching your soul
your curious eyes

seeing beyond that of time
into the abyss so black
penetrating the deceiving

nothingness of its dark hole
becoming gravely aware
of your own mortality

as you step back from the ledge
tossing in a handful of dirt
and a single red rose__

it is with remorse that you leave
your lover's side
and as you whisper

the final goodbye
to her vacated ear
your mind plays tricks on you

___she calls your name
and calls you near___
from beyond the darkness in her eyes

you can feel the chill....
as the lid to her coffin
opens in front of you

and in that one brief moment
you think of jumping in_____