Sometimes We Think

Sometimes we think we are so far away

From the Danger Zone that we build

Our castles in our corner of the playground

Hang out our laundry and hire attendants.

We cut a path and park our cars, 

Plant daffodils and put up mailboxes.

Sometimes we think we need to mark

Our newly-found territories, accomplishments, 

And build sturdy fences to prevent

Unwelcome visitors from trampling the grass.

(We make a sign to denote as much--surely

Even the most daft of neighbors would understand.)

Sometimes we think it's all ours,

And we work ourselves half to death

Trying to fill our castles with things we deem

Necessary in order to have a life worth living.

"Mine, all mine!" we think, exclaim, shout,

Failing to convince ourselves of permanence. 

Sometimes we think we are the center of the universe;

We are unaware that storms are brewing

On the other side of the State Line, within earshot.

We make our choices not to hear, not to take action,

Not to be too concerned--after all, what has it to do

With our castle? Surely they can tend to their own.

Sometimes we think we'll live to be a hundred,

And maybe we would if it weren't for the million

Things that can and do go wrong in human life.

Even without outside factors, we've only got a few years,

At best, we live in our castles for ten decades.

At worst, we never live to see ten decades, or even two.

Sometimes we think it all lasts forever--

But not on this planet.  At some point, things change,

Our courses are impacted.  Some changes?

Predictable.  Others, not so.  Neither is better.

The end is the end.  Abrupt. No matter when or how.

Dying breath is dying breath, natural or nuclear.