Sonnet

The waves of death rose about me.
The pains of the netherworld surrounded me.
To the far horizon stretches an implacable sea.
As far as I can see.

But that at least is in this world.
Below the horizon lies something even more fearful.
It is death, my sail finally furled.
I cannot avoid it however careful.

The young fear disappointment in love or career.
We older ones do not not lament.
We know anyway the end is near.
Soon we will take down our threadbare tent.

But as just below the real horizon is the rest of the world we cannot see.
So after death will come the calm after this turbulent sea.

Haiku

Below horizon
No world but death is waiting
And perhaps some calm