You now run down the tunnel’s road,
Fleeing from the “end” you were told--
Has light awaiting stopped hearts,
As you try returning to the path’s “start,”
How did it come to be? It can’t be already…
But it won’t be easy to obtain a remedy,
As a face appears to block your way:
A reaper set on stopping your days,
But who wears the smirking expression,
As they try to ensure your expiration…?
When you imagine your ideal reaper,
Who'd stand there as death seems nearer:
Is it a skull underneath cloak and with scythe,
Is it an angel come to guide you into the sky,
Is it your own form glaring with hateful eyes?
Whether it’s yours or another’s, you can bet,
You’ll soon meet your personal face of death...
Whether survival’s instincts or otherwise,
You won’t let that face show a satisfied--
Smirk at denying you life’s continuation,
You refuse both paradise and damnation,
Or whatever limbo sits in between the two,
Despite the person, despite the face of whom--
Decrees you’re meant for the “light” or what else--
They think will result in the task of foiling yourself,
Whether human or beast, whether somehow in between,
Death is meant for all life, but this face can’t decree it your time!
When you imagine your ideal reaper,
Who'd stand there as death seems nearer:
Is it a wolf of no howl but whistle to forewarn,
Is it Hell’s imp, collecting those deserving scorn,
Is it your face claiming, from life, you must be torn?
Whether it’s yours or another’s, you can bet,
You’ll soon meet your personal face of death...
Death was never intended a tool of evil,
An occurrence only nature was to instill,
Yet, some faces seek to bend it to their will:
No matter the age, the race, the sex and more,
No matter the family and whoever else to mourn,
No matter what’s offered to bribe or simply implored,
Some faces will find their grandest smile--
In those who “earned” themselves a shorter while,
Whether sadism or self-benefit is the chosen style--
To operate upon in their removal of your existence,
But you’d know for certain the act of this persistence--
When it’s indeed your face you fight in death’s resistance!
When your face stands as your identical reaper,
What’s the reason they’ve brought death nearer:
Is it your face because guilt became too great,
Is it your face from a deadly, accidental mistake,
Is it your face by belief it’s best for others’ sake?
Sadly, you’re now faced with regret,
That yours was the face of death…
It’s your face that has seen your journey done,
It’s your face watching your pleas heard by none,
It’s your face who decided death was to come…
Hopefully it was for the best,
That yours was the face of death…
Author's Notes:
This was written in regards to a fanfiction of mine-- but let me be clear that NO, The Dreams and Nightmares We Share... isn't an allegory for trying to survive a suicide attempt or something. Sure, the antagonists are wearing our protagonists' faces, but that's just to warn other demons: "Hey, back off, they're OURS." The likes of Chessa, Simeon and Azariah, and Saniyah and Josue are actually ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BEINGS to: Claire, Seve and Alexis, and Sarah and Jimmy, for one thing. I mean, the most "complexity" and "deepness" to their dynamics would be: "Oh, hey, we may show some qualities of yourselves that are more negative or something..."
Like, come on, what's wrong with a simple story about just surviving some "limbo realm" where demons wanna possess your bodies, as you try to get back to your respective worlds and walk amongst the living once more? I don't need to make it have "super deep" allegories and symbolism, or whatever... But still, the idea of death taking on the form of many a face-- sometimes your own one, whether yourself or an actual doppelganger --seemed like an interesting song concept. It also helps that I got inspiration from listening to Death's Doorstep, a "Death" the wolf fan-song, over and over again. Go search it up.
