You Should’ve Killed Me

You Should’ve Killed Me

You should’ve killed me when I was a newborn, soft and weak.

Snuffed me in the cradle when I could not walk and barely speak.

You should’ve killed me when my fingers were slipping on the final rung.

Should’ve stopped my heart as you tried to stop my lungs.

You should’ve killed me when I was small and hapless and dumb.

Should’ve struck my body down while I was still young.

You should’ve killed me when I was low.

I could not have taken another shot, not a single blow.

You should’ve taken everyone; my family, my wife, my friends.

That really might have done it, I was nearly at my end.

You should have killed me, that much is true.

For now, it’s too late, I’m stronger than you.

You should have killed me anyway you saw fit.

Before I had this stamina, before I had this grit.

You should’ve killed me, when you could split and bleed me quick.

Now my bones have grown dense and my skin is too thick.

You should’ve killed me, killed me right where I lay.

But you failed, and now I will haunt you for the rest of my days.

And while its true that one day I will be dead.

It will not be you that takes me, I will simply rest my head.

You should’ve killed me, Death. Should’ve tried harder.

Before I became older, wiser, smarter.

You should’ve killed me, Death, and killed me whole.

For one day you might have my body, but now you’ll never have my soul.

You should’ve killed me before I ever raised the pen.

Should’ve killed me anytime, doesn’t matter when.

For now, my spirit is on paper, and the paper rests upon the shelf.

No longer yours to take nor mine to sell.

You failed Death, my oldest friend.

For it is you who I must thank in the end.

You could’ve killed me with a single gesture or a glance, but…

You should’ve killed me when you had the chance.