Benchmark Poem by Joe Fraccalvieri

It's in our skin… It's in our hair…
Within each weave of the clothes we wear
All we achieve-- and all we dare
It's in our water… It's in the air

It's the food we eat and the things we share
with those whom we meet, whether rude or fair
It's on our tongues… It's in our lungs
Nude and bare, it's precious and rare

If we could package it, the label would read,
"Handle With Care! "

It's what we see, and what we don't…
It's what we do, and what we won't
It's what we say-- it's what we hear
It's here today… It's hope and fear

It's amazing-- it's brutal…
It's effortless-- it's strife…
It's wonderful-- it's painful…
It's limitless-- it's rife

It's your passion… Your children…
Your family… Your husband-- Your wife
It's tough-- it's fragile...
It's blunt like a rock
It's sharp as a knife

It's this terrifying, resilient,
astounding, marvelous,
incredibly beautiful enigma
called Life