Charles Mingus — The Chill Of DeathRecitation by Charles Mingus

The chill of death, as she clutched my hand. I knew she was coming, so I stood like a man. She drew up closer, close enough for me to look into her face and I began to wonder, "hadn’t I seen her some other place?" She beckoned me to come closer, as if to pay an old debt. I knew what she wanted; it wasn’t quite time yet. She threw her arms about me, as many women had done before. I heard her whisper, "you’ll never cheat me, never anymore." Darkness and nothingness clouded my mind. I began to realize death was nothing to fear, but something sweet and kind. I pinched to see if I was dreaming but failed to find bodily form. I then began to realize death had worked her charm. Taking myself of nothingness I chose a road to walk. I noticed death’s pleasantness with no one to stop me to talk. I remembered stories of heaven as I envisioned the glory ahead. Two roads lay waiting for me to choose them now that I was dead. One road was dark; I could not see clearly such its long stretched highway. The other road was golden and glowing, and shined as bright as day. And I did remember stories of pearly gates, golden streets...or how…however those stories were told. I knew I’d reach heaven on this highway. If not, I’d have the gold. I took one footstep feeling safe and acting bold. Suddenly, I realized my mistake. My chosen road turned black, bitterly, and white cold. No longer was it golden glory, nor heaven that it's in. White hot flames were blazing; I saw the devil with his grin. I had taken but one footstep so I turned to hurry back. But there a sound more waited, not a door, nor a crack. Finally coming to my sense, I walked on to my hell. For long before death had called me, my end was planned. Planned but well…