Spiral Dance
by Philip Brent

When we think about life, our future, we want to succeed
To be popular, powerful, rich, comely, to live a life of ease
Some live solely for an afterlife, or in daily fear of disease
How many of us ever choose to contemplate our legacies

You know all the phrases; you read them in the obituaries
We don’t expect our kith and kin to say we were a sleaze
Self-centered, alcoholic, profligate, angry, hard to appease
Never thought of anyone; always acted just as you pleased

Dust accumulated on your meager laurels makes me sneeze
Sure hope that your next life is better, not this one in reprise
Or perhaps you’re are one who decides their head to freeze
Don’t bother, your accomplishments will vanish in a breeze

Yet those who say she was loved by hers and other families
Survived by children, grandchildren, by a nephew or a niece
Had friends, honesty and respect, maybe earned your fleece
You, go ahead, take your dirt nap, you earned eternal ZZZs