Who Decides?

[Lightning Rod]

Who will decide when I die?
Will it be god or the doctors?
No, I will decide

Will I charge into a hail of gunfire?
Jump from a plane with a poorly packed chute?
Strap a bomb on for a cause?
Succumb to all my tragic flaws?


Have an affair with the wife of a man who owns guns?
Or just destroy myself having too much fun?
See how fast I can go in a car?
No matter, I will decide.

I won't die of boredom or a creeping disease
nor fear nor not anger, I've finished with these
I could take the swim to China
or put myself in the deep freeze
But I will decide

Too important to do unconsciously
I think I'll die in passion, die suddenly
It always happens in an instant
when the soul drops this body's weight
I will pick the time, I will pick the place

Put me in an ambulance
and take me for a ride
for all the times I've told the truth
and all the times I've lied
Only time and circumstance
will feed my hungry pride
Put me in an ambulance
and take me for a ride

When the Old Man comes
I won't hide
but
In the end
I will decide.

[stilltrucking]

I like this one Clay
a lot of tension between the apparent contradictions

[jimboloco]

again well constructed for a wild man

myself
i envision taking off on the road somehow
ya know
but it depends
if my wife is near then i will stay with her

i'd like a shot of brandy and a joint tho
will see the bardo better

or maybe not

i see so many folks struggling to survive
quality of life

like moms who have kids
and don't want to leave them

and i don't know
maybe i will make the grim reaper beat me

it all depends on the show
on the situation

but i agree it is an option
but not a foregone conclusion

best to be like the wise fool
crossing a frozen lake
all rapturous and awake
yet aware thhat at any moment
the ice can crack


yet a admire your composure
and disclosure
rest in peace in advance
but write a death poem first
and take some time to celebrate
and commune
and if you are in pain
get some relief
i know you won't die of grief
we are all sad
and happy too
don't be dying of the blues
celebrate
and take a chance
make death find you

you are not on trial
are not condemned
have no truth to defend with your death

your living is what compells
that is enough

[mnaz]

Who decides?

Not me. Not exactly as I'd imagine.

That much seems clear.

[Doreen Peri]

If you kill yourself, I'll never speak to you again.