Embracing Death

By: Dirg Posted on: July 31, 2016

A song I wrote to be sung around a fire, late at night. Its eerie tones contrasted by the call to fight! Imagine with me if you will, a darkened night, a handful of us huddled around a warm flame. The woods behind us, and the wind causing whistles through the trees. That is the time for this song to be sung, increasing its cadence until the end, inspiring one to go to rest with victory in mind, instead of fear. But starting with fear, because all good campfire songs do!

Embracing Death
by Dirg

As I lay bleeding on the ground,
Not yet knowing my spirit had departed
I hear a voice that chills my bones

"Perhaps you should Embrace Death"

With ethereal feet I stand firm
Embrace death? Should I?! But NO!
'Tis not a friend whom I should hug
And wrap my arms about with love.

He is a foe of mine, and so I will
not embrace but fight and scratch
and kick and claw and scream.
Death is no time for gracefulness.
Instead I hatch a clever scheme.

Welcoming death, the thought I should,
Absurd! Embrace it, NO! Not I.
He is no love returned from lost.
He is a cruel and horrid beast.
And I would slay him if I could.

He's taken many from my ranks
He's taken from me whate'er he can
And so I will not embrace the fiend
But keep from him my soul, I plan.

My soul would rather haunt the realms
And linger there, without a fleshly home.
Than give my enemy his due
Thus so says I, and how about you?

Will you go gently? Will you befriend?
Will you welcome him with open arms?
Or will you join in denying death?
Will you too try to bring him harm?

E'er I embrace him you will see
T'would be a deathlock to be sure.
A bear hug with but one intent
To break his back and cease his reaps.

So if you ever some time die,
And no one hastens your return
Expending you, your final breath
Or be no flame for you to burn.

Perchance that is because that I
Succeeded my immortal fight
And rendered unembraceable, that death.
And in so doing, made wrong a rite.