Dying by Alice Walker

For those who with our taxes die of torture

--
What is it like
Dying?
Is it like
Sinking
Into a bath
Of warm
Milk?

Is it like
Lying naked
In the
Sun
Those first
Truly
Warm
Days of
Spring
After
A winter
That
Froze
Your teeth?

Dying
I think
can be
Like that.

Above all,
It is yours:
It
Is
A safe
Place.

They may
Be
Electrocuting
Your
Toes
At
The time
Or
Pulling out
Your
Finger
Nails
Or causing
Your
Terrified
Heart
To stop
In other
Ingenious
Ways.

But dying
You
Escape
Them
Into
Peace.

They will
Never
Know
Something
Only
You
Can
Have:

Dying is yours
Alone,
Precious
Human Being
Whatever
You have done.

Dying is
Your secret.