I have felt death visit here
and heard it's quarry spoken of
for a few days, and then,
no more.

At night death sighs
in my ear
like the sound of silk on steel,
gliding past my door.

I have heard death rattle
in a man's throat
and reverberate in my soul,
stirring my heart to bleed,
even as it beats with life;
this, that takes me away forever,
that promises: soon, soon
and breathes light to life
like oxygen to a flame.

Death, the prostitute,
who knows she will have you,
and how much it will cost.