The Man Who Is Working For His Death

He said he was a descendant of the Babylonian Sufis
supposedly they migrated from India thousands of years ago.
He told me his story as we talked about Sufi poetry
about the transience of life and the permanence of love
the mystical connection between Sufism and music
his degree in classical music from University of London
the year at Juilliard's and switching to Jazz
and the series of unwise choices he made in life
although to him they did not feel like choices at the time
it was like other paths were not illuminated for him.

So how is it that you are doing this now?
A year ago, I had a bad case of lymphoma.
Wait, what? Yes, it is true!
He said that in a perfectly detached tone
as if he was talking about a bedbug infestation in his building
He did not have insurance and he was bankrupt after the treatment
Now he drives a car to make a living (I wonder what that means for him)
and he tells me why he is saving some money.

"They tell me this lymphoma will come back in four or five years
and when it does, I don't want to undergo chemo nor do I want to be here
I will buy a one way ticket to Nepal or Bhutan
I will let this body die a peaceful death and I will find a new body.
If I meet you in the next cycle, I will say Hello".

I wish you nothing but a wonderful journey, my friend!
I am thankful to have met you and to have known your soul
I hope to meet you again and I hope I will recognize your kind smile.