Is This Death?
What defines death?
When the lungs are too tired to gasp for air, is this death?
When the heart is too broken to send warmth in the form of blood, is this death?
When the eyes are too dry to shed tears
When the hands are too shaky to pray
When the lips are too chapped to smile
Is this death?
A corpse enclosed in a coffin does not shiver in the cold
But brings tremors to the living who crave the warmth it once emitted.
A girl locked in a stall does bleed, her arms covered in crimson
Yet the only red seen is painted on her nails and coating her hair
The dye washes out, spiraling with soap down the drain
The polish chips off, flecks of it stuck between yellow pages
When the color fades into monotone
Is this death?