Speak Not of Death

Speak not of death
where immortality
binds past and future
in departing breath
to leave behind a legacy
from life so young
eternity bequeathed

How measure length of life?
speak not of death
when none can say
what quintessence rife
turns a soul beneath
its shell of dust
to come alive

Yet more than time
to measure length of life
quality and hearts
changed through its prime
the scar and not the knife
has more to tell
of soul’s design

We ask the reason why
with no more time
a spirit is released
unto the sky
“Not my will but thine”
silence in the dark
God’s sole reply

We are left here
with no answer why
overcome with grief
no halt for tears
our spirits cry
it was not long ago
that he was near

A life too quickly sped
we are left here
to keep the spark
from youthful body fled
remaining on this sphere
to hold the torch aloft
in this boy's stead

It’s true he’s gone
a life too quickly sped
to leave this earth
that we still walk upon
say not that he is dead
for defeated not in death
his soul lives on


(c) Mark Zellner '07