life masks, death lines

i died

it was abrupt, but i lingered for hours

then became stone cold

and rigid

only a tear crept out

of the silence

—

i woke up the next morning

conscious of having died

and proceeded to live

happier than in a long time

—

since then i’ve died

and awakened

many times

no jagged pain or gaping hole

just clean, sharp slices

gradually forming a heart transplant

—

every day of life a chance to die

every death giving birth

endings grow beginnings

glimpses of always