Billy

I touched the cheek of death of one day

As he dawdled along his way

Hunting someone to embrace

In faux bravery I sought his face

In pride I laughed, n'er more alive

Standing on edge, arms open wide

Death smiled at me, an old wise grin

In foolishness was I taken in

So many times I'd beaten him

Survived his sardonic, mirthless grin

Each time I shouted to the wind

I'm alive old fool, you've lost again

My adversary came late one night

Passing, to me a nameless fright

to wake me screaming in my bed

Thoughts of my son burned in my head

You monster, think I, this is not his fight

An answered laugh fades with the light

Dawn once sweet finds a broken man

Shouting to winds, he can not stand

Hidden tears in a river flow

Hidden face, so apropos

Whispered cry, how could I know

caring not, Death's howl doth blow