DEATH

I wrote this first poem to capture some ideas on death that I had been considering.  The second poem is my epitaph, which I was inspired to write when considering my place in the universe and humanity.

A Meditation on Death

As I sit here now, contemplating death,
And ponder what my finish will be,
I know not when i'll draw my last breath,
Nor if my soul will live after me.

When my body can no longer host my soul,
Will this be where the trail ends?
Or will it go on towards some eternal goal
Forever and ever without end?

Like an opaque wall that blocks my view
So that beyond it I cannot see.
Death spreads a shroud I can't see through
To what my end will be.

Now uncertain of my ultimate fate,
There is only one course to steer.
Live in the present with love, not hate,
Have hope and be strong without fear!

Hope that I live the best that I can,
And be kind to all I meet.
Be strong to protect all woman and man
From evil and deceit.

Be strong in my own righteous beliefs.
Let God's love guide my way.
Fear not, I will receive relief
From my burdens all my days.

Have hope that when the time comes
And I am hard up against death's wall,
That visions of my own loved ones
Will help me meet death's call.

And know that when i see death's face,
My God will not leave me alone.
And the crowd I see is the whole human race,
Each meeting the same unknown.

To tell the truth I’m pretty sure
There’ll be no continuation.
No permanent self of me will endure
And there’ll be no reincarnation.

The best I can possibly hope for
Is my actions will carry forth
With ripples in time as my encore
My spirit will find rebirth.

My Epitath

We all pass through this universe
With its exploding stars and mysterious nebulae.
I was one of us.
I really knew nothing of the cosmos I lived in.
What marks have I made on my world?
Not many. 
But I can say that I loved,
And I was loved. 
And that's all that really matters.