The Book of Otter: Death, and The Eternal Tango
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 12:00AM | by Otter 
Death is not, as the humans suppose, a tall, bony reaper.
We know that death is not a man, nor shaped like a human at all.
But we will humor them, and say that death comes, tall and dark and bipedal.
Death is much more like a suspicious handsome stranger with oily hair and an overlarge mustache, wearing a tuxedo and asking them to tango, over and over again. They keep refusing, half afraid that they cannot dance and half annoyed at the persistence of the question.
The major difference of course is that one does not usually regret giving in to even a disagreeable person who asks one to tango.
But the truth is, death is rather bad about stepping on the toes, and gives the most obnoxious grin to the onlookers as he dips his partners, a rose clutched theatrically in his teeth; he has an annoying habit of humming along with the accordion and the violin, and one gets the feeling that one will never be able to cleanse one’s nostrils of the scent of his hair-oil.
I could not stop for death, said a visionary once, and so he kindly stopped for me. But in truth, once you say, “Oh, alright, then, but just the one dance,” Death does not stop at all.
Don’t bother trying to lead. It just makes it worse.
You have only one real hope, so listen closely.
Remember the one thing he cannot stand is to be laughed at.
And over that, he has no power.
Book of Otter, Death in Personal Reflection 
Reader Comments (6)
I thought I was the only one to see death as a romanitc figure. Since I was 15, he has tried to woo me. At first glance I was afraid, but now he seems a knight on horse back waiting patiently for my readiness. I no longer fear him . I only anguish over the faces of those who love me and will think they have lost me too soon. I will laugh in the face of death and rid myself of him. Why do I feel so much pain for you?
You really should read the Sandman series. In it, Death is portrayed as a woman, but not just a woman: a friend. Every time she takes someone, there's a little moment when they see her and are surprised to be happy. They had feared her for so long, but the moment they meet her, their gut instinct tells them that she is someone they want to be with.
Eavesdropper, I'm not sure I see death as a romantic figure. More tawdry, I think, and a little violent.
Victoria, as always, thanks for the recommendation: you've got my bedside table loaded with stuff... that's a good gift.
You really should read the Sandman series. In it, Death is portrayed as a woman, but not just a woman: a friend. Every time she takes someone, there's a little moment when they see her and are surprised to be happy. They had feared her for so long, but the moment they meet her, their gut instinct tells them that she is someone they want to be with.
Agreeing with this - I was going to suggest it and saw Victoria already had!
I have done further research, and have found many references to a female Death-goddess especially within the Hindu religion. While thumbing through Barbara Walkers' The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myth's and Secrets, she referenced Arthur Avalon's Shakti and Shakta. He remarked how westerners were unable to understand the terrible beauty of the two forms of the death goddess Kali (nubile beautiful virgin vs. hideous ghoul and devourer of corpses). Check out Forgottenbooks.org for the full book by Avalon. Thanks Virginia.
Aaaaaaand there's another addition to my three and a half page list of books I need. Thanks. : )