The Reaper

Death came, a stalker of men.
His cloak rippled behind him as he swept by.
The chill he leaves behind lasts no longer than a count of ten.
He sneaks about the night, searching and scheming who will be the next to die.
The cold fingers are swift and sure.
The cold and icy blade that frees the soul.
His power to take the roll of anything he considers useful.
Any soul who doesn’t fly when the knife breaks the ties, he places in a bowl.
It is emptied at the hour of midnight.
The Hell-bound souls burn in the Pit for an eternity.
They fall into the windless abyss, tumbling on in endless night.
Death turns when the Door opens to accept him, demons scream for him to come and see.
Beyond that Door, awaits his future.
At the end time will shift and his services will not be needed.
His only chance to survive the Apocalypse, is based on his master’s enemy, the redeemer.
The fires burn him though he is cold as glacier winds, his pale forehead is wet with sweat.
He was witness to the formation of the earth.
At one time, he was ranked well in the eyes of God.
Than came the terrible one, a monster since his every birth.
Cain took his brother’s life and two beings took pleasure in the sight, Death and the Deceiver
In that time, Death was a word of honor.
After the first man was slain, the essence of it left the light.
It took up the cloak of darkness, and hid its face from the radiance of heaven
Until the time of judgment comes, Death will stalk the souls of men, a eternal, moving blight.
“Who will come next?”
He swings his lantern and his blade.
Limpness, pain, terror are his trademark, murder his tool.
So, he will wander ceaselessly over the surface of the earth, wondering about the his trade.
‘Will it ever end?
Can pain and suffering of others justify the release?
How can Hell accept me if all I have done is the will of God?
How can Heaven welcome me when I sent so many away from the joy that will never cease?
How can Earth accept me?
It is a battleground for the demons and the angels.
Where can I find acceptance, all my strength broke that day on Calvary?’
There are no answers, so he wanders the earth, taking and freeing under his time is done.