How would you wish to die?

Lying in wait as it drew closer
Seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours
Pain, tension, loneliness. All of them here
His time has passed him by


They come one after another
Friends, family, strangers, all by his side
Wallowing in pity and sadness
All teary-eyed for him


None could possibly know how he felt now
None could possibly imagine
Tumultuous aches and pangs wrecking his soul
Nobody knew


What is he thinking?
He couldn't tell them
Not even if he wanted to
No matter how much he needed to


Never had he felt as lonely as he does now
How could that be?
They're all here with him
They're here to see him


To see him leave
That must be why they're here
Isn't it?
Perhaps this was the source


The more he thought, the lonelier he felt
The light in his eyes faltered
He is ebbing away
He knows. They know too


He lays in wait
These machines refuse to let him go
They refuse to let him go
Are they really saving him?


Would that they know
would that they see
The icy cold pain
The incarcerating darkness that accompanied him


Was this the end that he had so wanted?
Upon a bed, surrounded by beeping machinations?
Hanging upon a wire that slowly cut through him
Dying slowly. Forced to live by pump and tube


Had he the choice to choose
Had he the strength to decide
Is this how he would want it?
To die slowly upon a grinding wheel?


How would you want to leave? How long would you wish to suffer? How long would you wish to show them how much you suffered? Would you wish anyone to see? I'm sorry. I chose not to see. I chose not to see.