Death

Why stay here, child,
And suffer such pain?
Come away with me tonight,
All thy struggles are in vain.
Come with me and we will play
With flowers from springs long gone
Listen to the songs of birds long dust;
I’ll adorn thee with a dead king’s crown.
Wait thee for an angel’s words
To guide thee to the life beyond?
But I am Death, child, ancient and unchanging,
Angels are but newly-forged.
Come now with me, child, come,
Leave thy life and mourning family behind.
Come, we must now this journey begin,
Loosen fast all ties that bind
Thee to this mortal coil.
E’en great Achilles in allegiance bent his knee,
Shall thou now refuse?
Come, child, no judgement awaits thee,
Fear not that thy sins shall be weighed.
All mortals are adjudged the same,
No burden of vices or treasure of virtues
Shall earn thee a better place in Hades’ realm.
My sister Sleep thou follows into dreams,
With the same blind faith, follow me now.
Come into the land of rest, child,
Eternal sleep shall soon smooth thy brow.
Come now, weary not thyself with more struggles.
Come, thy parents eagerly await,
Come, thou shall again be their child.
Come, child, ’tis but a step more to Hades’ gate.