Book of Life

"What if we're like stars, We only shine bright when alive, Just a small light in a vast world that one day goes out, What if the weight of the world's what living life's all about"

What if dying isn't death

If when we leave this world…

The weight of it is simply off our chest

When we take that final breath

We live the most memorable of moments all over again

But this time…

We’re at our best

What if only the best of memories replay

All the sadness,

The shame,

The madness,

The blame and the anguish…

What if they’re cast away

What if it's like waking up to not just another day

If only the happiness is the feeling that stays

What if…

Death is truly the end of all pain

If love is all we retain

What if…

The night sky…

And all the stars from above

Is all that remains

But...

I’m wondering about those stars

They too someday die

So…

What if we’re like stars…

We only shine bright when alive

Just a small light in a vast world that one day burns out…

What if the weight of the world’s what living life’s all about

All the people,

The places,

The sorrow and joyous filled faces…

Each of our books of life and their;

Some better,

Some worse but…

Still lively filled pages…

Are what leaves those we leave behind with heartbreak and…

Sorrow filled grievance…

What if our memory is truly all that's left when we pass into the unknown

An empty bed in a place we once called our home

A place where in our old age we had grown…

What if our lasting legacy is only the moments in which we shared an experience

If...

The wisdom,

The kindness,

And the hard work filled progress…

Is all we leave behind

If we only leave what we project into those empty filled spaces

In our loved ones' hearts and loved ones' minds…

I wonder what I'll see when I'm staring up at the ceiling or sky…

Somewhere down the line…

life hanging by a thread

Watching the story of my life as it flashes by...

Will there be regrets,

Goals never met,

Things never said,

Thoughts trapped in my head…

Or...

Will I be able to say

I did all that I could

Willing to die without needing to lie…

T o m y s e l f

What if…

The money we made

The status we gained

The list of the people we blame

For the shame on our name…

If none of that ever really matters when our…

Book of life comes to an end…

What if

It was only ever about the mark on everyone's hearts we ingrained

If like stars we burn out but…

Just burn out much faster

The difference for us is…

No tomorrow can be guaranteed

If...

This life…

Was the only book you could write

If tomorrow was your final chapter…

Can you say your book of life was the best it could be

Like only the greatest of books

When they end...

They leave the world with sadness and grief

With…

Wonderment and pure disbelief

If your life was the best it could be

Can you close your eyes

Fall into that endless sleep

Feel your heart's final beat

Come to a close as you cease to breath

And go satisfied…

K n o w i n g   y o u r   b o o k   o f   l i f e ' s   w o r t h   t h e   r e a d

---

Author's Note

Book of Life is a personal favorite of mine. It is one of the poems I am most proud of.
It was straight from my heart and mind. It came out of my realization of "what if" this really is our only life; It then made me realize how many people are wasting away. I tried to make Book of Life as inspirational and thought provoking as possible so that maybe it can save a few lives from fading.... help as many of us thrive as I possibly can.... rather than just living to die.

Reviews

[Nolo Segundo]

This is quite good, having a lovely introspective feel to it. I'm especially impressed that you're only 17: at your age I spent most of my time thinking about girls. I wasn't completely shallow though; reading Camus and Sartre, I became an agnostic and thought, like your poem, we only get one life, though I saw absurdity where you see beauty. At 24 I almost drowned and had what is now called a near-death experience. It showed me the soul is real and each of us exists endlessly-- before this life or after I cannot say where, but it's something I've been trying to understand for 45 years.

[SeemsPoetic]

Glad you are still with us Nolo Segundo, and I appreciate the review! I had no intentions of bashing anyones beliefs of what comes after we pass I was only trying to inspire people to be the best they can in the time they are given.

[Hebe]

What a great reality check.....what if? marvelous poem ...makes you think and question and gives you a jolt!

[zunie frost]

i agree with you .
life is a book and we are the writers. one write it honestly
this poem is really beautiful and no doubt most powerful i have ever read .
great work ...

[C. Rose]

favorite line, and it just so happens to be the last: "Knowing your book of life's worth the read"

[JayG]

One major problem is that after the second "what if," you're simply listing things that add little. In other words, you make your point. You hammer it home. You drive it into the ground. You smash it into...

[SeemsPoetic]

That was the point, to hammer it home. I am glad you saw that but I would not say it is a major problem... However, I will try to ensure I keep this in mind for my next poem.
Thank you for your review JayG!

A review of The Waves of War would be much appreciated. Give me your worst or give me your best. Critique is important so we will let the content decide what you see. Thank you for taking your time to read Book of Life.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree.
"If...
This life…
Was the the only book you could write
If tomorrow was your final chapter…
Can you say your book of life was the best it could be?
You create question and thoughts in the poem. What a reader should do. Each new day is a blessing. We can do great things or nothing. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Marianne Rose]

I love all of the "what if's" and wondering, and I love that your poem calls us to be our best selves. You are a writer of the heart, the deep place where we grapple with life, love, regret, everything you've said. I am so grateful that at your age you are already awake and making a difference through your writing. It gives me hope.

[iamshadowine]

amazing! this is one of the best poems I've ever read!
and these lines are love
"If...
This life…
Was the the only book you could write
If tomorrow was your final chapter…

Can you say your book of life was the best it could be

Like only the greatest of books
When they end... "
keep writing :D

[Oliver Free]

Wow. This is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful poems that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Many people consider existential issues in their writing, but not all of them can get across the uncertainty at that thought of "what comes next?" Truly a wonderful poem, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.

[j.c. lomeli]

this is really good, I loved it a lot!