we are alive because we won
some cosmic lottery of laws
a battle versus antimatter
everything we know and are

we are alive because we won
the perfect distance from the Sun
where water flows and life may grow
upon, along, above, beyond

we are alive because we won
a litany of love and war
we wonder from atop our tree
where have the other branches gone

between the void and kingdom come
between infinity and none
and of that number
only one

we are alive because we won

His gaunt frame was gangly
He wore jeans and a coat
He was nervous and sweaty
And strung out on dope
He’d stare at the ceiling
Whenever he spoke
I offered him help
But he said he could cope
Then I laughed in his face
At his poorly told joke
And casually implied
I’m at the end of my rope