so much sadness
in the world
all this grief
and hardship
perhaps God
has abandoned us
maybe there is
no hope
we're caught up
in this eternal swirl
some lucky ones
have kinship
most of us
have been enveloped
within all this messy fuss
many are broken
careening
down a treacherous slope
when we are young
the world
is so bright and new
once the moon has risen
twenty thousand times
we often
have changed our view
when middle age
has found us
our eyes
are opened wider
those warm summers
when hope was still alive
when our children
played happily in the sun
before the autumn
of our lives
generous memories
reminded us
of when we were
young and having fun
then grinding winter comes
old age has trapped
and grounded us
reminding everyone
that time is short
that we're caught up
in this terrible muss
after tragedy
has marked us
after broken hearts
have seized us
when the day's setting sun
may be our last
we see at least
a grain of truth
in our reflected past

  

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