Whenever someone hang glides,
They pick a place to land.
Somewhere soft and somewhere close,
Somewhere that they planned.
They ease themselves down to the ground,
With caution and with care,
They use the sail to catch the wind,
And feel it in their hair.
They hold on tight with all their strength,
To make sure they slow down,
They time it right, the end in sight,
And land without a sound.
And if we plan our landings,
Why not plan our deaths?
Why should we have to suffer
While taking our last breaths?
Now, suffering is not undignified,
But neither is this pill.
The dignity is in making your own choice
And following your very own will.
There is no shame in dying.
It takes courage, it takes strength
To know that death is part of life
And to be content with its length.
You’re in charge of your own life,
And not some deity,
And if you’re ready, leave full of love,
With peace and dignity.
Writer-in-Training
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Hello! My name is Damien and I'm a student at the University of South Florida's College of Medicine. I was born and raised on the island of Antigua, and have been writing poetry and fiction for years. I hope you enjoy my work!