I have come many ways to
this state of being nestled between
lithely young and facing Death’s
unwanted prospect; and so I am
here writing a letter to Life,
to the unfathomable thing that
lies at the centre of us all, untamed,
and then goes away to leave us in
the dust of heaven’s dark betrayal.
Life, you formed us up and made
us into movement and joy in a cold
universe where for all we know you
make your bed only here and splash
us with your energy till you choose a
new place and walk away, smiling still.
This energy moves unrelenting in the
tiny and large and each creature so
charged moves this way and that
till at last the charge is gone and the
earth itself takes charge and brings
all the bodies to its own good self.
That is your mission, Life, to set us
up and delude us into believing that
you are more than a magician hiding
the truth with your whizzbang trickery
that fools most, but not me—for I see
through the illusion to the truth that
life is for the living—no more, no less.
And you wrestle with the earth in a
battle of eons where you almost lost
in those extinction years where the
planet held you captive till you broke away
and thrust your energy on creatures that
have formed into us—poor us, that are so
aware of you and your dark companion
who comes by stealth to steal your
living art away; but you care not for all
the living things that are your masterpieces
in your lurid gallery of dust that sits
in public view for all to admire and believe.
So here I am writing to you, filled with
your energy—warm, alive and believing love
is real, and admiring your art and your guile
as you abide here with us, aloof and free
like the clouds, till you pack your bags filled
with the tricks of your dire trade and move
over the hill and far, far away, yes, far away.
Life, your mystery remains and we are
captive to your charms and speak well
of you and all you bring to us on this
floating ark in a universal sea; but we
also know, if we care to see the truth,
that life cometh and just as sure
life is easily taken away—removed
with the wave of a wand and a smile.
Beware then, my friends, of this Conjurer,
this wandering charlatan that offers up
beauty and promise only to take them
away again by slight of hand.
19/7/2021