Life Is Not Measured By Its Length Poem by RIC BASTASA

i know you know that life is not measured by its length
or its width
lest it simply becomes a piece of
cube
a matter of furniture
or even a block of wood
lest it becomes so ordinary

with a depth that you can measure
so easily

in truth life has nothing to do with numbers
first, second,
one, two and three and there you claim that you have life

life is quality my dear
it is giving your best shot
giving up
life for a reason for a cause for those you value most
for those you love

and then when all the reasons are lost
when all your loved ones left you
when there is nothing greater
to believe
when nothing is worth living anymore

i will ask you: where can life be?
there is none anymore

it has become a piece of junk
worth throwing
in your garbage can
or keeping it in dusty garage or the mezzanine
always hoping that someday
it may still be worth the stay