The letting go

soon now the phone will ring for you
someone will say that you are dead
and dead you will be but not death
nor the voice on the other side will
have killed you

only I will do that. I will let you die
no sooner than I'll have to, no sooner
than I'll need to, no sooner than I'll want to.

You may die before of after death comes
for you
but not when she wants it
no sir, not so, not like that. Not death
dealing all the cards. She will not tell me
when you die. Only some voice on the other side
will say so but not true.

For you will die before or after that moment
death comes but not before I let you go.