A newborn’s first cry, initial breath
Miracle of life in concrete form
From that moment, the dying begins
Each milestone, celebrated
One step closer to inevitability
With every step, a living cell dies
Never to be reborn
Hold tight to each smile
No matter how brief
Live life’s laughter
Love deeply and often
Grieve each loss as it comes
Cherish each tear it brings
For they cleanse the soul
Revive the heart
For better things to come
Bask in sunshine, dance in the rain
Relish this terminal life
So when the last breath escapes
And angels inquire
What was the best thing of living?
There will be so much, so very much
It will take eternity to answer
Miracle of life in concrete form
From that moment, the dying begins
Each milestone, celebrated
One step closer to inevitability
With every step, a living cell dies
Never to be reborn
Hold tight to each smile
No matter how brief
Live life’s laughter
Love deeply and often
Grieve each loss as it comes
Cherish each tear it brings
For they cleanse the soul
Revive the heart
For better things to come
Bask in sunshine, dance in the rain
Relish this terminal life
So when the last breath escapes
And angels inquire
What was the best thing of living?
There will be so much, so very much
It will take eternity to answer
by L.L. Shannon ©2009
