Especially Life

...why we take pictures...

If it were simply sun or summer

…rain, or tea, or you and me

If it were merely toes a-tickled

By the pulling, lulling sea

If Delight were not soft-shaken

on our bitty wakefulness

if existence were all taking

without second-thoughtfulness

…if we didn’t know the difference

between beginning and the end

we would never drink so deeply

from the fount of life, my friend

…for 'tis in the solemn knowing

be it summer, you and I

be it rainbows scrawled in ether

promise on the weeping sky

…be it dipping doughnuts, dashing

where the leaves of autumn spill

be it wondering at petals

or the kettle-song when chill…

…comes creeping up the hollow

to betray our summer feet

that we begin to swallow

that which makes this life so sweet

…not in the having, having

of whatever Life will send

but rather, in the knowing

that its every Thing will end

…that’s what makes it special

© Janet Martin

Yesterday, while doing round two of a long appointment at the dentist I had ample opportunity to see many commercials on their overhead TV screen. One commercial boasted an 'endless vacation'! It got me thinking how unsatisfying such a vacation would be and it dawned on me that no matter what we enjoy-seasons, books, treats, you name it, it's in the knowing that it will end that makes it special...especially Life.