I made a fool of Death

in making you smile at the world.

In showing you that beneath my ribcage 

was not the heart of a lion, 

but the ears of a mouse. 

Come drown with me, 

in the waters of joy, in sorrow, 

in breaking and growing, 

in falling and rising, 

in starting and ending. 

Eternity is in the way you looked at me, 

the way you saw me 

for my kindness and my imperfections, 

and decided to stay 

in the small shade of my life.

But if my breath were to cease, 

and my laughter to hush, 

and my questions to falter―

where you could walk on, 

walk on. 

And see for me what I could not; 

hike every mountain,

swim in every river, 

sing every song,

put your boots on every road

And make a fool of death.