Life (Life Is Everything) Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

You watched me grow
Glowing in my youth
Every step I took
You looked on
In silence
Holding my hand
You gave me courage
To face my storms
You never left me
Always with me
Even when I was sick
You were there with me
You were my friend indeed
And my friend in need
I never asked questions
Always content
With your gifts
In my 40's & 50's
I started complaining
About my receding hair
You kept quiet
I complained more
About my diminishing strength
You were silent
I even complained about my loss of interest
You kept quiet still
In my 60's
I started having pains in my knees
You were silent
Even at night
When I couldn't sleep
You never said a word
I knew you were there
Because I could feel your breath
In my 70's
I stopped thinking about you
I focused on myself
I even gained weight
I travelled the world
Not bothered by your silence
In my 80's & 90's
I enjoyed the wisdom
You fed me
Never asking
Why you fed me
You were silent
Until that day
When I was on my death bed
I couldn't speak
Then you spoke to me
"Now, you know, " you said.
"That life is everything."
"Love, pain, sorrow, sickness & joy."
As you closed the curtain
And death rushed in
To hold my hand