DEATH

DEATH is no escape, ah no! only a doorway to the inevitable.
That’s why the dogged, resistant old ones dare not die
dare not die! — they daren’t go through the door.

They dare not die, because they know
in death they cannot anymore escape
the retribution for their obstinacy.
Old men, old obstinate men and women
dare not die, because in death
their hardened souls are washed with fire, and washed and seared
till they are softened back to life-stuff again, against which
they hardened themselves.