Once to Die
By Joan Estelle High
©2003 

Even now , before I lay me down to die.
I still don't know the reasons why.
Why do we live if we are born to die?
Who does decide the where and why? 

I have heard it said we live but once.
But why can't we live at least twice.
We would have much more time to learn.
And the second chance would be so nice. 

The first time that we go around on Earth.
We  do not always understand our lot.
Life is not sometimes fair from our birth.
We sometimes either have or we have not. 

So when we are planted under ground.
We would then return a much wiser man.
We could play the hand that life has dealt.
For then we would understand the plan. 

If we could shed this mortal shell we wear.
As far above the sky and stars we would fly.
Be free as the wind and then down with care,
We would pick our own space to live and die. 

The potter's clay we would reshape and change.
Much wiser now we love  and share and give.
Lots of our past behavior we would change.
As we grew and learned what it means to live.

I guess God is the only one who knows just why.
 If we have really been appointed only once to die.