She lies on silken throne,

a white gem against black night,

a lifeless shadow on my wall

as I sift eyes through scattered bones.

A roadblock of time has elapsed,

lingering void handcuffs my soul,

faded life lost in eternal bloom,

black ice runs cold through veins.

Dark wolf mourns in broken howls,

silhouettes where life once blossomed,

perfume dissipates into untouched air.

Dittoed clouds lose their silver lining,

black rocks of death signal twilight

onyx rides on ruby bark of remembrance

as she dies in a sob of last refrain.

I touch her name with futile fingers,

ingrain her essence into my heart.

I weep finality of a closing teardrop as

she flies freely and soars high,

last whispers have ticked, silence is nigh.

I awoke with a start, 

    something gripped my heart.

It felt a bit like fear, 

    as my eye let go a tear.

Someone near me loomed, 

    someone in my room.

"Who stands near my bed?" 

    I tried to raise my head.

My body felt like ice. 

    No blanket would suffice.

A figure dark and cloaked. 

    I didn't think a joke.

I couldn't see his face. 

    My heart began to race.

"Are you the man in black? 

    The one who takes souls back?"

I thought he whispered words.

    If so, they went unheard.

"Please speak up and say

    if you're here to take me away!"

I felt breath on my neck.

    I was a complete wreck.

My vision became blurred.

    My voice was frail and slurred.

"Please just leave me be!

    It can't be time for me!"

I shuddered in despair

    when I felt him touch my hair.

Then I heard him whisper close

    sending fear, another dose.

"You won't leave with me tonight,

    but your life do not take light."

I suddenly awoke.

    I know I heard him when he spoke.

There is no question now,

    death did visit me somehow.

Colors bright

They overwhelm

Overlapping

Swirling

Mixing

Screaming

They guide

Dragging

Pulling

Kicking

They hold

Prisoner

You a prisoner

Tainted by every touch

Stained by every whisper

Meant to lead

But led

Lead

Meant to shine

Shone

Stone

Stuck

You're stuck

Piling up

You can't

You can't

Freeze

Blind

You blind

No colors to lose

No colors too loose

Black

The one you know