I decided I want to die before my time
I could not, CANNOT, stand the idea of fading slowly away;
Watching my body deteriorate

I saw myself picking up the morning paper
Tired and wrinkled, I bended slowly
And turned to the obituaries
To search for long-lost friends

On the TV which I could not operate
(It was so different from the current ones)
I heard news of all the stars
All MY stars
Fading and Dying
They were being replaced
Just like me

My accomplishments had flickered out
My space in the world
Was being occupied by someone new
Everyone I knew
Everywhere I knew
Was gone

I saw myself sitting in a chair, memories fizzled
into hints (and maybe dreams)
I could not think
Everything was fuzzy
I was slowly slipping back
Into the earth

This I saw
I promised myself I would not go this way
But look at me-
Am I not sitting in a chair, my memories fizzled
into hints (and maybe dreams)?
Look- I can no longer think
Everything is fuzzy

I am slowly slipping back
Into the earth
Not such a shock,
I just didn't know it would come so soon, so NOW
So now_______________should I
keep my promise
and die before my time: right NOW
Right now_____________instead of trying to escape
My early senility?