My Dates with Death

I met death many a time...

The maiden moment when
a school returned evening
Saw my tabby kitten headless,
eyes staring dead at me
I buried it leaning my grief

against dad's heart.

Then I saw dead old people decked in flowers

I settled my discomfort

      in my dad's palm.

I date death in action
 As I see an uncle shudder to death
Being the only one seeing him die

                                                               I sift that shock

through dad's twined fingers in mine

I sense something terrible drawing near
I see it happen in a month
My loneliest tryst with death
I see my dad struggle
lifelines  go in and out
I hear him die, I refuse to see
I don't weep, for the first time
I just have a piece of cold wall 

to settle my grief.