Life and Death

I learned all I needed to know
About the meaning of life and death
In the falling of the last snow
When my father exhaled his last breath

Every lesson I could have been taught
About the ends and the starts
I was given when one day I fought
With all the misgivings in my heart

I stopped being afraid of death
When I was still young
When I learned to love every breath
And love every new sun

Things come and cease to be
As surely as the pace of time
And when time comes for me
I will not fear the dividing line

So every minute of every hour of every day
I should cherish as much as I can live
And live as fully and well, come whatever may
And give to my life till I no longer live

Ex Tempore LVII
M.M. — 03-Aug-2013