THE MAYFLY'S MEDITATION
I live to die --
a poor mayfly.
Why link sweet May with someone so banal?
I'll say the word!
I am absurd !
I don't make sense! I have no rationale!
So difficult
to grow adult,
then, never eating, life lasts but one day,
but one short stint
to shine and glint,
then I become some trout or salmon's prey.
One shining hour
within my bower
to mate, be fruitful! Ah, there's wit for gleaning!
Perhaps I'm part
of larger art!
In that case even mayflies would have meaning!
Yes, I can cope,
and I can hope
as long as I am linked with something greater,
Great kings must die
and so must I:
the reason why -- I'll leave to my Creator.
from the forthcoming book Prayers of 100 Animals A to Z, by William Cleary
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