Death and Life
poetic scribble by Bob Axell 2009

 

Let me tell you about this dog I knew
Who barked when I came into his view
He was deaf as hell, so I had to yell
His name to calm him down

Now his name was Death so people thought
I was insane until I bought
A voice distorter to call him by name
But since that day things weren't the same

For he didn't know the new voice was me
One day he attacked me suddenly
He bit my arm right out of the blue
And on it he proceeded to chew

Thankfully his teeth were old and dull
And they pierced the cloth as I pierced his skull
Not at all, for I was too kind
And though the dog was both deaf and blind

I let him on my arm chew some more
The years they passed just like before
But thanks to the exercise on my arm
His teeth grew sharper to my alarm

But it was not really worth the fright
For as his teeth sharpened he regained sight
And hearing, and smell, and now he can tell
Who I am without me having to yell

Still my arm has become a tradition in life
To chew every day so that Death feels alright
I will not let him shred my arm thus the task
Is to have my arm wrapped always in cast

And he who was old now runs and basks
In sunshine, laughs, and crunches cats
A week ago we had a big buffé
Been twenty years since he was old and grey

I seem to age much faster than him
And he chews with frency at my casted limb
I wonder if I will outlive my death
But I live now each day without regret

With death in life, and life in death
I'll live gladly the years I have left
For death was life and it is my call
To live with him or not at all