The Gift Of Life Poem by John Sensele

The gift of life transcends bling
Cosmetics, bucks and accessories
To which by mistake men and women cling
When on balance most material possessions don't surpass groceries.

The gift of life deserves more respect
Than it receives from able bodied men and women
Who take it for granted and treat it with disrespect
Ignoring the reality that ubris often signals a bad omen.

The gift of life in the twinkling of an eye
Can slip from any individual
When from nowhere they collapse and die
Prompting crocodile tears and plastic smiles to stage a sombre ritual.

The gift of life tastes sweeter
When in hospital bed a patient gasps for breath
Wondering why for much of his life he chose to be bitter
As in a few seconds he stares at the cold hand of death.