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
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: March 30th, 2025 07:11
- Comment from author about the poem: Inspired by the song “Death”, by the heavy metal band Demon Hunter. Form: Revelatory Cascade. This poem is the tenth poem written in my original Revelatory Cascade form.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 19
- Users favorite of this poem: Poetic Licence, NinjaGirl
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Comments7
At first i thought the devil at the doorway to hell, until all our envietable fate's are revealed, enjoyed the read
Yay! You're my first comment! And yay, the mystery held. I was really trying hard to both give clues but not give it away too soon. Thank you so much for your time and affirmative analysis, my friend. Glad you enjoyed! Have a great day! 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
You are very welcome
It comes for everyone big or small, young or old, rich or poor it is the great equalizer and in my mind the justice of the universe that treats everyone equally. The use of the word (I am) is in my mind a reference to what the Bible calls God's name. It is powerful and seems meant to shake the reader to the core. As for me I look at it as an old friend that I have seen the face of many times in the past, sometimes as a visitor come to call on friends and family and at others an me but decided to leave early with a promise to return latter. Loved the poem
Indeed. Thank you, Soren. I am glad that the tone came across and that you loved the poem. I also thank you for your thoughts and sharing your experience. Much appreciated, my friend! 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
I thought it was a quiz-poem - 'Who am I?' type of thing, and we have to guess. Doh!
LOL! Now that could have presented some pretty interesting answers had I done that! 🤣 Thank for reading and engaging, Orchi! 🖤🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
You gave the answer away at the end. Doh! lol. I would have said - The answer of course is: the mother-in-law. heehee.
LOL! Wait? Is you mother-in-law Death? 💀😂
Not exactly, but feels like it - maybe! lol. And not mine, but maybe some other people's.
LOL! Indeed! Thankfully, not mine either! We get along swimmingly, though we aren't trout. 🤣
LOL.
That really shook me… first being flustered then lost then realising, so much like cancer but no so much more… and just as the word formed, like the Prestige, the reveal slams head on and on time! Death. 🕊🙏🏻
Indeed! I am so glad that the poem delivered, my friend, and kept you guessing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience reading it with me. I very much appreciate that! 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
You are most welcome! It was like watching that one extended shot film 🎞 “1917” 🎥 🍿
Yes. I know the one of which you refer! Thank you again. Humbled.
You’re welcome dear poet🙏🏻🕊
A cracking write. Love the gothic tone of the poem. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Tom! Glad the poem and its tone delivered. Much appreciated, mate. 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
A dark and unsettling confrontation with the inevitability of Death.
Thank you so much, Salvia! Yeah, this one is a bit unflinching in its approach. Glad it delivered and so thankful for your time and feedback. Much appreciated my friend! 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
I knew it was Death from the beginning, but what beautiful description. If there was a way to double favorite...I think this is one of my favorite poems I've ever read.
I am not surprised you did, my dear friend! Glad you were onto it from the get go and, wow. I am deeply humbled by that. Glad you you loved it so and, if you have not heard Demon Hunter's "Death", I think you will dig it. It's heavy, as I am guessing you might imagine...but such an "in your face" song. 🖤🙏🦇🐦⬛🦇
I'll give it a listen! Being perfectly honest, I've been thinking about this piece all day. Truly such an amazing work! It led to a bit of a doodle of Death with some dialogue matching this poem vibe. I may be writing a similar poem soon enough if you don't mind..!
OMG. Not only would I not mind, I would be honored if you did. Please do let me know if and when that manifests.Thank you, so much, my friend. I am truly thankful for you and for this correspondence, which I will cherish forever. 🖤🙏🦇🌹🕊️
First of all: that's a pretty fire song! I'm not particularly familiar with the genre, but I don't mind it. Secondly--tomorrow I'll publish it...It's been a while since I've been so excited about a work!
Right?!? Glad you enjoyed it! Yes!!! Looking forward to it!
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