The Word Death... Poem by RIC BASTASA

while driving
he was telling me about
the mishap which happened
to him and Paul
yesterday at noon

they were riding
in a motorcycle when
suddenly
a glitch in the brake
came and they were thrown
away on the side
of the road
and by luck there were no
following vehicles which
could have
killed them both

he has not changed
a bit
while telling me about
such a horrible
story

loquacious as ever and
sometimes
with his behavior i think
that he should not
have been
taken seriously
for taking such a
sensitive matter
with a grain of
salt

on the other hand
i think he is right
for what can you do
when finally death
knocks at your door?

Paul who is a handsome
middle aged man
with a family of two
kids and a beautiful wife
until now has appeared
pale and
fearful and promised that
he will never ride again
in tandem with that
short and ugly guy.

and i have come to
a conclusion: those who
have more to lose
in life
are the most fearful
people in this world

to an extent
the word death should not
be
spoken