On My Death Bed | Lekan Adeneye Malloren

On my death bed, when my legs and limbs are weak
When my throat is too narrow to swallow bolus of meal
When I struggle to catch breath in my mouth, and the sound of my shallow heart beat fills the room
On that bed that looks like my passage to the grave and draws me closer to my ancestors

On my death bed, I don't want pity faces around me that serves as a reminder of my current predicament
Please do well to play me some Afro pop music from my favorite artiste while I shrink on that bed
Do not send me flowers while I'm on that bed, bring them to my grave instead
Host parties around my bed on a daily with a lot of foods and drinks because that's exactly what's going to happen while I'm gone
I just want to be involved in the celebration of my passing on
I don't want to miss that celebration

Poet's note: The poem was written in connection to certain experiences my mum had while she struggled with illness on her death bed. It was a crazy experience for me also to see her suffer but I was helpless. The time she spent on that bed WWE full of sorrows and pain. So I thought if I was to pass through the same process, I want my experience to be lively and filled with happiness and genuine people around me