Ship in a Bottle

I see you. Can you see me?
Why is Death the only Friend
Who can ever set me free?
And I’m so afraid – I shan’t pretend
Of what awaits me there;
The only way I might escape,
To cease to be. Is that unfair?
To reside in this amorphous shape
Until my soul explodes –
Only then, this icy shell will crack,
And I suppose the pain erodes –
Or not. There will be no way back.

SJL: 18th March, 2004