I lived, because living became my fate,

Ordained to walk the face of Mother Earth,

To sweat, toil, labour, something to create,

To love truly… for whatever ‘twas worth…

Instead of insight I collected thorns,

Clawing, tearing the fabric of my heart,

I tried planting wisdom yielding acorns,

Yet I never managed to become smart.

It will not be long before I depart

- Time will be up, with near nothing achieved -

To my Creator to return my heart

N’ my tortured soul that so often grieved.

My soul got tainted with un-wished for stain;

But let me not seem to have lived in vain.

© P.J Oszmann (2008)

Illustration: “The Eye Of God”  Space photograph, taken by the Hubble Telescope (from public domain)  (I selected the photo in honour & memory of Tycho Brahe*, although the poem itself – apart from the title – has nothing to do with him)

* Ne frustra vixisse videar! (Latin) = Let me not seem to have lived in vain.    Attributed to Tycho Brahe, these were the words he – reputedly - uttered to Kepler, near his death.

* Tycho Brahe, born Tyge Ottesen Brahe (14 December 1546 – 24 October 1601), was a Danish  nobleman known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations.