An Ending

 

An Ending

Look down the winding road,
until no more road can be seen.
Is there a singular man ambling along 
with a knapsack on his back;
wearing ancient hobnailed boots?

The man is looking for a way to end.
He waited patiently for Death to take him, but...
Time went on, years went by and
he yet lives.

In all of his time,
he was rowdy, and wild, and unfettered and 
alive.
Bowing down to no one.
Living in this moment,
or that.

He lived without attachment -
no family, no lovers, no wife, no friends.
He was content with that lack.
Nothing disturbed his equanimity.

Well, nothing, other than
the fact that he didn't die.
No matter how recklessly he tore through life.
Nothing would kill him.

When he began to tire of Life,
as one does without commitments,
he beckoned to Death,
indicating his willingness to be taken away.

Death gave him no reply.
You could say that Death ghosted him.

He didn't want to directly suicide,
because he saw that as cheating.
Instead, he ran into traffic. 
It stopped and he was saved.

He jumped off a cliff.
Unfortunately, he was caught in mid-air by a parachutist,
and survived again.
He waded far out to sea hoping to drown.
A friendly dolphin rescued him.

So now, he rambles along this winding road.
He's lost interest in dying.
He knows his time will eventually come.
He will bide until then.

On a Tuesday in May of his 92nd year,
a cyclist will lose control and drive 
into the old man's fragile body
and end his life.

As he awakens on the Other Side, 
he'll sit up and say...
"What took so damn long, anyway?"

"You were given a life sentence - no time off for good behaviour."
...will be the amused reply.

"I behaved badly," he’ll admit.

"Why yes. Oh, yes, you did." The Elders will chuckle mirthfully, and then, “Ishmael, you spent 50 years as a member of a violent biker gang. We are amused by your delicate admission of behaving badly, considering the murders and other crimes against humanity of which you were culpable. Surely you’re familiar with the saying ‘Only the good die young.’ Had you done more good, you’d have had an earlier release.”

Ishmael sighs, “Now you tell me? Now?”

An Elder states, “You were given a conscience. You chose to ignore it.”

©Ellen Pepper 2025