It is said that right before death,
when breathing is all but gone,
our bodies starts to gasp
agonally,
opening our mouths as wide as possible,
popping the jaws if necessary,
and sucking in air so hard
as to pull the atmosphere into the lungs.
It’s not enough.

Sometimes the gasps continue
even after the heartbeat ceases.
It’s our bodies’ last stand,
trying to trick Death into
seeing life where life is not.

Pretending to be alive,
our stretched lips mouth:
kiss me,
kiss me,
I swear I’m not dead.
I promise I’m not.

How eagerly we would like for
Death to believe us.
But he is a shrewd man,
and as he kisses us,
he whispers: “Liar”.