i know all too well how death will feel, and, for that reason, i do not fear it
one final, crushing moment followed by an endless expanse of quiet
what troubles me most is, once i have departed, what remains?
will i have made an impact, changed lives, realized my potential?
it is precisely these questions that plague me without reprieve,
and why shouldn’t they?
they push me forward on my best days, and hold me in place on my worst
and on the days in between, i wait patiently to be pulled in either direction
the truth has become clearer in recent times – there is no more time to waste
there is too much to give of my soul to retreat into it
it must be borne proudly, a banner of all that i am, and all that i could hope to be
within it stirs a surging desire to rectify the wrongs of the world, and, on my best days, it feels within reach
i cannot simply leave this place without changing it for the better
i am but a fragile vessel, trying desperately to weather the squalls, to remain true on my course forward
but when the winds of change have brought me to my resting place, and my body has found peace
it is my greatest desire that my words and affection for the world will have inspired others to carry forth the cause
so that, when death and i meet at last, and my departure is imminent,
i no longer question what remains
