Tristan Robert Lange

An Abrupt Visitor

Let me ask you—who do you think I am?

If you don’t know it by now, you will later.

I am not some gateway to a nice place.

Again I ask—who do you think I am?

I am no arbiter of forgiveness.

I am not holy. I am not special.

I am not some doorway to open skies.

I ask—who in hell do you think I am?

Will you not answer? You seem so silent.

I am no distributor of justice.

I am not lonely. I am not unique.

Once more—just who do you think I might be?

I am not some pathway to purity.

Won’t you please answer? You look so pale.

I’m not in it to keep you alive.

I am no arbiter of all things right.

I’m no company to keep—not unique.

I demand—just who do you think I am?

I am not some trailhead to transcendence.

Please answer me now! You look so sickly.

I am no hero—I will rescue none.

I have not arrived to keep you alive.

I am no deliverer of what’s right.

I work alone, but this is not unique.

I am not some trek to total transcendence.

You will answer me now! How green you look.

I command—tell me who you think I am.

I am the cessation of lasting life.

I am no hero—I will rescue none.

I will not deliver one from their plight.

I work on my own. No, you’re not unique.

I am not some doorway to dominance.

You answer me now! How gangrene you look.

Come on now—tell me who you think I am.

If you don’t know I’m Death, you will later.

© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved. East Stroudsburg, PA