My thanks to aging for making me
increasingly aware of the impermanence
of this life and of me.
When younger, I didn’t really get it.
I hadn’t lived enough, seen enough
people, things and events pass away,
like leaves falling off trees on a river bank
and floating away in ever rushing waters,
like ever passing lives.
Now many people and generational icons I knew
are dead – gone forever.
Now I look forward to joining them
in what I believe is a glorious, permanent existence.
Of course, my belief could be wrong.
The only permanence I could die into might
be just a permanent death and nothing more,
no heaven, no nirvana, no eternal bliss, nothing.
Or, I could die and have to come back to
this impermanence again, maybe as
an improved, better me facing all the
uncertainties, the suffering, the evil
in this impermanence once again.
I like my belief better, a permanent world
devoid of the suffering, evil, and impermanence,
a forever world of peace, love and bliss.
And Mike Mchugh and Joe Drew, if you’re reading
this from the other side,
If what I believe is true,
I hope to meet you there too.
Bob Boyd