On the Beach
we live such fragile lives
subject to earth, wind, water, fire
alive in a universe we barely understand
despite all our probative energy
attempting to stay the hand of death
one more hour, one more day
warding off its perceived finality
a woman once dreamed of an airplane crash
jet fuel and blood streaking her face
like drops of rain
bodies falling through the sky
horrified, she watched as they hit the ground
only to become new life forms
a contiguous existence, death passing into life
as gracefully as a blossom
falls to the earth
this image a stark contrast
to the decimation we experience
our terrified response to earthquake and flood
we base our security on
transient forms and beings
human flesh and personality, a beloved pet
structures composed of concrete, wood, metal
this is my daughter, my dog, my partner
this is my house, my office, my car
when natural phenomena
disrupt our carefully constructed lives
we are shocked, grief-stricken
appalled at the universe
for dealing such a blow
indignant at God's apathy
and in our blindness, fail to witness
death's genesis
Copyright © Mary Helmic | Year Posted 2015
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