I don’t want to die

Not for the pain, but for the loss

I don’t want my absence to leave a gap in the cosmic fabric

I don’t want my family to leave flowers at a marble cross

I don’t want to die

Not for the pain, but for the grief

I don’t want my sisters angry with some God for claiming me

I don’t want my parents sullen, struck dumb in disbelief

I don’t want to die

Not for the pain, but for the blame

I don’t want to put the stress on an undeserving heart

I don’t want to leave a scar in the shape of my name

So don’t scatter my ashes yet

Hang up the black dress, and the shawl

No, I don’t want to die—

Sometimes I wish I’d never been born at all