On Dying Young (Part I) (poem)

By Luke Labern

Mortality becomes a motivation
Because I have a resting place.
It’s a grizzly thought, but I’m thinking
There’s depth to be found in sinking.

You say ‘die’, and I ask ‘when?’ —
You tell me ‘soon’ and I think I understand:
Either way, it’s useful information
Though now it deserves an explanation.

I’ve said before that it makes
Things easier — so I suppose
You could consider this purposeful
Complication — in turn, life becomes stressful.

We’re all supposed to be ambitious:
I am — but is there any harm
In being satisfied sat where I am?