A View of Heaven

A View of Heaven
by Marty Lewinter

Is this the last poem I shall write
Before my mind's eye loses sight?
Then I must carve it into stone
That shall above me stand alone
To testify that I breathed air
And tasted love and knew despair.

Will death soon come to silence me
To snuff my soul eternally?
Then I will freeze in time these lines
While my setting sun still shines.

Life's bought with burnt offerings —
And sacrifice of carefree days.
To grasp great thoughts and do great things
I paid a price—but life repays!
Of all the riches life bestows
Naught compares with giving birth
To an idea that grow and grows
And takes me high above the Earth
To see the wonders that are found
Miles above safe solid ground
Where truth and beauty wait for those
Whose souls command them to compose.

That is where I wish to die —
Where Earthly shackles fall apart
And stars command brave men to try
With every ounce of strength and heart
To do what most say can't be done
Armed with vision, fueled by love
Fighting till the battle's won
Soaring o'er the clouds above
Till the quest for art pays dividends
And the means of toil yield fruitful ends.

Are these words my parting lines
Ne'er again that place to see?
Then high on the mountain 'tween oaks and pines
With a view of heaven, pray bury me.

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