Encounter

I sat down by the river Styx

Alone, and weary at heart.

I took a long breath and,

Just as I was about to try

And drink from that river,

I was stopped by a thought.

Do I really want to die? I

Asked myself (a good question

really, why hadn't I considered 

it before?) And while I stopped 

To think about the possible

Consequences of such an act,

Another unfortunate fellow 

Came up and sat beside me.

No words were said, on either

Of our parts, and in peace we sat 

There for quite some time, 

Me thinking about the river

And him who knows what.

Then, together we rose as one,

And, startled, I turned to my friend

To ask his purpose in standing up.

But he moved to the riverbank

And pulled some clothes out from

Behind a rock, donned them, 

Turned to me and asked, 

"Well, then son, are you coming or not?

I push the boat, tis true, but if 

You aren't inclined to cross I

Have other souls to pick up,

Which would be happy to

Take your place." "So, what

Would you have me do?" I

Asked of the man in front of me,

And he laughed a dry laugh,

Coughed, and spoke to me,

"Do? It's your choice. You

Can either sit there on that

Bank forever, like I used to do,

Or you can come with me and

Go where the master decides to

Send you." I nodded and thought,

And thought, and thought, and when 

I looked up finally ready to reply,

Alas I saw that he was gone,

Already halfway across the Acheron.