Sonnet: Earthly Life Poem by Dr John Celes

I’ve traveled more than half my road on earth;
Some more remains to be covered by me;
I’ve witnessed sorrows more than any mirth;
But on the whole, I’ve spent life usefully.

But what if life brought sorrows entirely!
Or life was full of joys without an end;
Neither of these, I would prefer truly;
The subtle mixture, I would recommend.

For, life’s monotony can kill the mind,
And dampen spirits, causing, umpteen ills;
The clock of life, none can ever rewind,
Producing tonsured, barren, naked hills.

Life is wholesome when joys and woes combine;
Joys only call on us in life divine!

9-15-2002