A new chapter

  Some fight for life   Some fight for life and some for death Fight for the right to die at home  To choose to die as best one can At a place and time of choosing.  The doctors have played their part, And grateful for their tender care Throughout a long life fully lived Now drained of carnal wishes.  Now the eyes look to a light That shows a path beyond the now That dimly teaches us to yield That assists the soul to slow.  Clicking monitors yield their place To familiar sounds around the home The ticking clock, the kids outside Bring back fond memories of our youth.  Days and hours melt in sleep Dozing happy and contented The pace has slowed and changed Nothing now seems urgent.  Ready when the call comes  For all life leads to this Some welcome as a blessing Some as a lifelong curse.  For those with faith another step Along the path marked hope No dreaded fear, no anguish The ship is sailing home. 

  Don’t speak   Don’t speak    to me of authority Just whisper me the truth If it’s right, it’s right No need to quote the verse.  If it’s true, it’s obvious To anyone with an ear It’s convincing and it’s clear To him who wants to hear.  False prophets squeak in double speak Their lesson is not so simple We fail to grasp what they are at It’s hidden because it’s meant to.  Don’t buy a theory that’s opaque The good stuff shines so bright If they say it’s too clever for you Just leave it on the shelf.  The grandest theories are the simplest The soundest teachers make it easy Beware the snakes that sell their oil With smoke and muddled chants. 

  My body is a temple My body is a temple That’s slowly falling down  We had the wiring done Thirty years and some.  We’ve tried our best I’m sure To primp and crimp and paint Over cracks that let in the wind Over wallpaper that’s grey.  With pills for this and pills for that They form a tug of war Within my gut for no one knows What reacts with what.  So here I am with workmen Arguing what’s the most severe, The brain that’s rotting   in the roof,  Or the windows that need repair.  There is a chance they’ll knock it down And start from fresh anew  I’ll keep an eye from the other side Make sure the planning’s through.