Short-Lived

In the quiet of early morning,
a dewdrop clings to the edge of a leaf,
a fragile globe reflecting the first light.
It trembles, a breath away from falling,
a brief testament to the night's embrace.

So too, our joys, gathered like rain
in the cups of our hands,
slipping through fingers no matter how tightly closed.
The laughter of children fades into silence,
the warmth of a sunbeam dissolves into shadow,
and words spoken in tenderness
are carried off by the wind.

Yet, in this transience, there's a beauty,
a sharpening of senses to the grace of the ephemeral.
For in the knowing that all is fleeting,
we learn to cherish the moments,
to hold them close,
even as we let them go.

Like the dewdrop at dawn,
glistening and gone.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Beaufort Avatar
March 16, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Dan, short indeed. Like a brief spark in the grand scheme of things. I too am 73 and see how much more often I am thinking about these things.
Lamoureux Avatar
March 13, 2024 at 10:01 AM
Sorry for the loss of your friend.
Lamoureux Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 5:48 PM
I enjoyed this piece very much. The tinge of sadness adds to it’s emotional resonance.
Iannone  Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 10:53 PM
Thank you, Richard. “Short-Lived” was prompted by the loss of a dear friend, Tyler. As we grow older, death stops more often at our doorstep.
M  Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Incredibly beautiful Donald….your poem really touched me! Life is so precious and should be cherished and treasured. I call our senior years the “ age of appreciation” as thats when we truly see the beauty and joys in life and appreciate them more. We also appreciate the vulnerability of time.The last lines in your amazing poem sums it up perfectly! Debx
Iannone  Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Thank you, Deb. Age of appreciation…I like that way of seeing life at 73. I work with cancer patients, which constantly reminds me that life is a gift.
Iannone  Avatar
March 12, 2024 at 4:57 AM
Hi Daniel, I like your comments. Yes, life is "on loan" to us, and it is a gift. Also, how our lives slipped by, day to day, moment by moment. Meditation reminds me to experience the moment; to experience the beauty of each moment. Have a wonderful day. Thank you. ~Don
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