"Not fair!"
      One of many angers
      against an early death.

Some attempt a feeble hope
      that a good God somewhere
      has special intentions.

Humans are unique...
      able to know their place
      in the journey toward death.

We deny, fight, regret...
      and ultimately accept
      what is.

For some periods
      we can forget our destiny
      or postpone it to old age.

Then a death comes close...
      sooner that expected...
      so we cannot put off or forget.

That's when we need a faith...
      not for facing death
      but for really living life.

The boy did a back-flip
      while his mother cringed...
      then applauded.

He hit the water—
      not the board—
      and came up smiling.

She was impressed with him...
      but I was more impressed
      with her.

Just months ago
      she had no custody...
      lost in the fog of drugs.

Then a change of will...
      abandonment of drugs
      and a loser life-style.

She retrieved herself...
      fought for her kids
      and re-built her life.

Money spent on drugs
      now goes for swimming
      and music lessons.

She applauds
      her boy's back-flip...
      I applaud hers.