​Death Stopped By

Death stopped by the other day.
I felt I had no option but to ask him in.

I sat like stone and watched him
sipping tea and crunching cookies.

Looking up, he said, “Oh no, my dear,
I haven’t come for you!”

Fear wrenched my heart,
my thoughts on those I love.

Again death sought my eye and said,
“My dear, it’s just a visit.”

I saw that he had changed—the solid
black-walled form whom I’d led in

was now benign, an old man dripping crumbs,
kindness in his eyes, good humour in his face.

“I’m not at all what people think,” said he,
and I saw that it was I, not he who’d changed,

the pattern of my vision settling now--
coloured shards in a kaleidoscope.

“It’s all in your perception”, he said,
pleased with my catching on,

“I’ll leave you now, and let you integrate
this afternoon’s delightful call. I’ll

come again, of that you can be sure.
And some day you’ll come with me,

knowing who I truly am, unafraid to
take my hand, trusting me to lead you on.
© Jill Ebsworth

About the author

Jill Ebsworth is a member of our poetry circle Cat Charissage hosts monthly. She is a refined wordsmith and writes beautiful poems. Her beauty also shines through her artwork and her cheerful personality. She also reads her poetry at our open mic events at the Owl Acoustic Lounge and during COVID on our Zoom open mic events. ​

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​Like many of us, Jill has suffered in life, and  finds that the arts and poetry are some of the only things deep enough to face the mystery and express it.  She was away from poetry for many many years, but has come back to writing in the past three or four years.  I hope she never abandons it again.  She wrote this blessing for our Poetry Circle and we are so grateful for it.