So, you say I’ve only left a faith

in a hale and hardy hope

and if not that,

then a weakening grasp onto a chilly liberty granting me

the freedom to accept there’s nothing coming

after me

but a deep sleep in a long darkness.

So,

it’s a tight hold on hope

I’ll keep

and a post-grave-digging yell-out-in-the-dark,

“Now! We’ll see!!”

from me and thee.

So let’s clasp hands and no more weep,

my friend

and face together, inevitably, our end

punctuated by question marks and maybe,

hope fully,

a grand exclamation mark

comes in the bright light

after our brief journey through

a short, dark night.