Ashes - A Poem

There was a river peaceful
I came across when young
That had I drunk of its depths
I would still be that same youth

No disease to rack my bones
Vigor, strength, no weaknesses
Would have been mine forever
Fully potent evermore

From across the bank I stood
A young lady appeared
Beckoned me to swim across
Waiting with pale arms open

I dove in and made my way
Across the cold deep pool
And realized she had vanished
When I made the other bank

Opposing an old man stood
With long grayed hair and beard
Locking gaze, I asked the man
What it meant that just transpired

‘You’re heart knew you’d be lonely
Though immortal young and strong
Choosing Death, you found your life
Now go, be happy, live long’

Life and Death, Death to Life,
Mere matters of opinion,
One on one side, the other across
While in between, a river flows on