some of us, as for what we call death,
others argue that too much has been made of it.

the knowledge that we shall one day die
does not make us very unhappy.

tho' none thinks that she will escape,
so therein none are disappointed.

seriously affecting us would be the knowing
of the precise moment of the felling chop.

yet we're watching, endeavoring to see
just who wields this sting of death.

as though by merely focus alone
we can stem its claymore swath.

acceptance is not understanding;
neither the converse is true.

10/13/2005