Endings

What is the manner of our end when we of cancer die?
“He died”– or was he killed each day till last exhausted sigh?
These folks I've met, great courage show in face of enemy –
They soldier on, defy the odds, and live in victory.

Not in the end, for all must die of something, mom once said;
Life's not about survival of fresh lives that we once led;
We all start out as little kids with tumbles, drools, and grins;
Move on through trikes and Tinker Toys till teenage time begins.

Foremost, there's school, and working days, a spouse, and several kids –
We watch them grow to adulthood, see them move from our midst;
We deal with loss at end of life far more than gaining toys
Or tools with which to conquer foes with Brave New World-ish noise.

Then slower days with rounder moves than teens’ sharp angled zest;
We smile a lot, join in their fun inside our hearts at rest;
We sense the coming end for us, we've lost a few dear friends –
No fools, we know it comes for all – life on this planet ends.

For some, we wear out – run the course – just stop one day – we're done;
For others they go out with smiles, while having greatest fun;
Then there are those in danger's way, lose lives in war each day
That we in comfort may go on and draw our routine pay.

But in the end we die – some fast; some live a long goodbye;
Some quietly; some with a jolt; but all in end must die.
The puzzle still remains for me of those who cancer have –
Do we just die or are we pushed from life with final shove?

I ask, because for me my life was one of push and shove.
Is there a change that's up ahead, before I go above?
Or is it just like all the rest, not chosen way to sail –
Another disappointing tack, against another gale?

Or does it matter all that much, as end of life I think
It could be short, or long drawn out, but all goes down the sink.
Hey! “One of one of something dies ”– more mellow now she says –
There's changes deep within her life, emergings ease her days.

An anaesthetic which clicks in to mellow us along
From raucous laughter, eagerness, to this our evening song;
“I'm tired now”, “I ready am, “Here goes”, “What's up ahead?”
At end, I've heard such sentiments from those to life now dead.

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