Living Longer Poem by Ajit Das

The sun rises, climbs into the sky,
slides down the lengthening slope
of the western horizon.
The day ends; another begins.
And life goes on.
Do you have a desire to live a complete life?
What is a complete life?
You mean living longer,
even when the body starts faltering, declining?

Or life is worth living
so long it’s vibrant, engaged.

You want to love and be loved, remembered.
But if you are robbed
of your ability to work,
contribute to society, the world
and have become feeble, ineffectual,
you will still be looked after, cared for,
but with a sad feeling of compassion.
And then a time comes
when you are treated like a burden.

Depart like an achiever,
not as a load on shoulders.