and I guess life and death
are two sides of the same coin
or maybe there is no coin at all
just a glowing pulse
some sacred jagged piece
of the universe
that sits within us all
and maybe that light
comes and goes
as it’s meant to
no matter what we do
no matter how we pray
no matter how we fight it
and maybe what matters
is welcoming it
when it chooses to arrive
and bidding it well
when it moves on
and maybe
all we can focus on
is that for right now we are here
in this miracle of being
and that we are together
and that we too
will be gone in time
but for now we aren’t
for now we can glow together
for what minutes or lifetimes
we have left
and there is nothing else

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at www.alexandershalomjoseph.com.