“Bone-white”

He reaches for my ankles with
bone-white fingers
and a calm, toothy smile.

Screaming high and kicking hard,
I call for friendless help that can
never find and never touch me.

Beneath his endless waters,
I hold my breath, tight, to live
but find I can breathe, thick and slow.

He holds me in his gentle arms, and
bone-white wings
unfold from my trembling back.

We soar into the cloudy sky,
where he smiles, nods his head,
and lets me go.

--

I just wanted to write something about death that didn't portray it so... cruelly.