Poem: "Death Sonnet One"

I've said before that I'm no poet, but lately, I've been attracted to the idea of writing sonnets about dark subjects, like death, madness, and the Black Death. Because...well, why not? Poems about love are so cliche, don't you think?

So I now present you with a somewhat less than originally titled poem about the arrival of the Plague to Europe and the horror of dying all alone...

Death Sonnet One

When merchants came to harbor on this day,

You never knew you quickly would meet Death,

You didn’t know you swiftly would drift away,

And, gagging, choke a bloody last pained breath,

 

For below in the belly of the boat,

The famished Black Death arrived to break fast,

It escaped to stalk, killing all it smote,  

You, alone, in your city living to the last,

 

In dying pain and torment in your bed,

You, coughing blood, with unheard groans of pain,

Lay praying for the final cold touch, said:

“Let torture end and anguish stop its gain,

 

Let mercy be swift, blessing me once more,

Please, Reaper, come and carry me to shore.”