Life is not a curse

I'm not hard, 

I'm scared.

I thought the cherry was the birch.

When the cloud cleared

I was still afraid.

At my best

I accept death

As a necessary search, wary

Of philosophies

That assign us souls but not the trees.

Nonetheless

I want long life, yes, 

I want to plant my seed and walk the wilderness.

But not yet.

First I must just sit.

Sit and feel the pain

That keeps me sane.

Eat my meal quietly and remain

A guest

In the body I know best.

This morning in the east

The sun rose on the lake. Again

I breathed. I was blessed

And thought to say

Life is not a curse.