Another Art

After Elizabeth Bishop

The art of dying’s not so hard to learn
once the fact is faced and you reflect
how life for everyone’s a finite term.

Choose how to spend each day and turn
a cheerful eye across the calendar — accept
the art of dying’s not too hard to learn.

Begin by walking slowly for you’ll earn
no increment of active years by running. Reflect—
your body’s fragile now, fear each awkward turn.

Avoid the wars that rage as populations churn
strafed by tyrants’ genocidal conflict—
they prove the art of dying isn’t hard to learn.

In peace you’ll die a piecemeal death— don’t moan
as faculties that served you well defect — 
the art of dying isn’t hard to learn.

But when the course is done, I’ll plead and groan.
I hope I’ll learn to die, but in effect,
living in the knowledge of life’s finite term,
the art of dying (Breathe it) is very hard to learn.

© Janice Dempsey 2024