I wonder what’s the other side

Of life’s eternal curtain,

I wonder if it’s true that there

Is no more fear or hurting.

Could heaven really be there?

With its legendry pearly gates,

Or is the truth, there’s nothing more

Than endless sleep awaits?

Scholars, far more learned

Than I am will insist,

That heaven waits for all who’ll believe,

And for the rest there’s the abyss,

While others, just as learned,

Will argue tooth and nail,

To prove that God does not exist,

Though up to now, they’ve failed.

Oh. They have proof of evolution,

That few of us could dispute,

And carbon date a fossil sample,

To the realm of King Canute.

They can describe the big bang theory,

And predict how things will change.

But for every mystery that they solve,

There’s three they can’t explain.

Like, why are we the only species,

That has a sense of humour,?

That cares about our history,

Or plans towards our future?

Why are we the only species,

From orangutang to pigeon,

To find beauty in the universe,

Or even contemplate religion?

From Neolithic, stone-age man,

Through to the present day,

Why are we the only species

That has ever learnt to pray?

And not just one or two exceptions,

But every nation on the earth,

In one form or another,

Strive to justify their worth.

To some mystic, unknown, entity,

That they have never seen,

Yet worship without question,

And hold in high esteem.

Could it just be coincidence?

Or part of a greater plan?

The answer lies with those I fear,

More learned than I am.

For I am just a layman,

And confess I have my doubts,

When I look around the world and see,

War, famine, and drought.

Whilst men that preach the word of God,

Are involved in child abuse,

And death is preached by others,

That share alternate views.

Though all agree, it’s wrong to kill,

Most will make exceptions,

And change the rules to suite their cause.

Until it borders on deception.

Still, I’d like to believe that paradise,

Waits somewhere up above,

With an eternity of happiness,

For all of those I’ve loved.

But though that is my fervent wish,

In truth, I can’t be certain,

So I wonder what’s the other side,

Of life’s eternal curtain.

By S.E.Ralph

15/3/2019