AWAY

Creatures of time for a moment,

Creatures of eternity for aye,

Living once and so briefly,

Then passing forever away.

2

But away to what is the question,

To freeze the very soul;

Away to the place where one had

Planned to make his final goal?

3

Or away to the unexpected?

Away to the undesired?

Where the sky is never blessed

With a morning sun, newly fired.

4

Away to the region of sorrows and grieves,

Here-to-fore unknown,

Away to reap the abundant harvest

Of “wild oats” carelessly sown.

5

Away to a place without babies,

To divert from the problem at hand

Away to a scene, worse by far,

Than Alamo or Custer’s Last Stand.

6

Away to separation – Separation

– How sad that word, how sad!

Separation from a praying Mother,

Separation from a faithful Dad.

7

O God, may I die as the righteous,

Peaceful, Calm, Prepared.

And come to the brink of the river,

Knowing I have not spared.   

– eab, Nov. ‘73