North Shore driftwood
The first half is much bigger
than the second shorter half
green, naive, sprouting,
climbing, reaching, chasing
after stars we cannot yet see
but believe are there
in timeless skies that shine
and tease the imagination
of twinkling immortality that
halts when illness strikes
or death intrudes to put the
lights out in the sky
and remind us to look down
as well as up, at our mortality
this flesh and blood we are,
this dust and ash we cannot
shed no matter how we try
or imagine otherwise and
if we’re lucky or blessed,
we understand in the second
shorter wiser, browner, wilting
falling, losing, finding second
shorter half of life the calm
that comes in golden years.
– Gordon C. Stewart, Oct. 25, 2014
Views from the Edge 
Wonderful. It used to be in ancient times the 2nd half was only as long as the 1st half as in 18+18 = 36. Then when we used modern science to flee from death extending childhood and adulthood to about 35 yrs each. We could say we still have a 2nd half that is equal to the 1st half for a total of 70+. How ever we slice it Christ, Buddha, Mohammed et al come along to help us deal with this seemingly paradoxically process we call living and dying.
I like your poetic desc. better Gordon
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Nice to see a response to this, Gary. I’m no poet and I know it, but it doesn’t stop me from self-expression. Yes, it’s the denial of death, the flight from death that leads us, paradoxically and ironically, into the arms of death. It’s not about how long we live. It’s not about mastery. It’s not about control. All illusions of grandeur that keep us from the wonder, the real grandeur all around us and within.
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Love it, so much where we are at….
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Wow Gordon. That piece speaks directly to my heart. So introspective and so eloquent.
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Thank you, Chuck. I know you’re feeling similar feelings and value the friendship.
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