New Poem,Oh Really, Heaven?

I was raised in a religious environment. Ever since I can remember, it was preached to me that I should set my sights on heaven.

Life is so short, and you can't take it with you when you go. These are mantras that were repeated to me often in an effort to get me to behave (translated, conform). Forget the material world; the spiritual world is so much more important. After all, it's eternal.

The problem is that I can't picture in my mind what heaven is like. What can be so wonderful that it can be tolerated for an entire eternity. It seems to me that being around that long would get to be boring.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in heaven. In fact, I long for it. I am well aware of the realities of this world, and if there is something better out there I am all for it. It's just that, with all my imagination, and all my contemplation, I can't picture it.

This poem is about trying to resolve the mystery of life after death.

Oh, Really, Heaven?



How much easier life would be

If we could see heaven with our worldly eyes.

We would not be afraid to die.

We could live each day looking forward with hope.

We would care for each other knowing that

The road to that wondrous place

Was for the good, supposedly.

How much easier life would be

If we all had an intimate vision of hell,

Of the ultimate place to be avoided.

If we knew hell by sight instead of faith,

Would we kill, steal, lie while knowing

Where it would lead us?

But, these are gifts we don't have.

There is a wall between here and there

That is only climbed by faith, or death.

We have anger, passion,

Love and hate,

Dark valleys filled with despair,

Desperation,

Indecision,

Hunger.

Hunger.

Hunger.

I have no vision of heaven,

So I struggle to believe that these hard times

Will always end in joy.

Oh, really, heaven?

That's fine for tomorrow,

And I hope will all may heart that that's where I'm headed,

But today, I would rather have love....