Poetry Contest Entry

The Price For Immortality

~By John Saberhagen

I fear what I want most of all,
As I hear death’s icy call.
As I prepare for my final bout,
I push aside fear and doubt.
For I know in my heart I’m going to fall,
For those I love one and all.
They are already on the other side,
To join them soon dose all my hope reside.
But that is the price of immortality,
For my loved ones to go on forever without me.
So I have come here to die,
No, to be set free.
With thunder’s crackle and lightening’s flash,
My foes dark shadow is cast.
If for one hundred year I have longed for his head,
Why does his presence fill me with dread.
Was this not the man who slaughtered all those I hold dear?
Making me cry a thousand tears.
We had grown to strong for any man.
We could only die by each others hand.
The fate of the world rests in this fight
The victor would rule the world with his might.
My thoughts were interrupted when the demon said “I knew you would come.”
I replied “soon the dead will be done.”
He raised his sword and I raised mine,
And then our souls did intertwine.
We fought, not stopping until one of us saw hell’s gate,
Each blow filled with bitter hate.
Then there was a sting in my chest my blood dripped down deluded in the rain,
I fell to my knees in intangible pain.
My life flashed before me up until now,
Which only renewed my hatred vow.
As my final act I took all my malice and al my hate and cut the demon I two,
Savoring the pool of blood at my shoe.
And on that day of hell I too fell,
Spinning down death’s icy spell
“Admit to me that I killed you.” Was the demon’s last plea.
I simply replied “you didn’t kill me, you only set me free.”

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