Why is it we gasp
To take one more breath
Why do we try to stay ahead of the reaper
Try to elude his sickle of death

Why when we are sick
Do we seek to be made well
Why do we try to get back up
When to illness we have fell

Why do we hold on the tightest
When we are at our life's end
Why do we look back from the bed of death
And wish for life again

When dying why do we revive
Old memories from long ago
Why do we call out
To those we love and know

It is appointed to all men
That once each man must die
But even while yet dying
We hope and fight for life

For in our heart we know it is through our living
That our love is made known
And we know when we are within the grave
No more love can be sown

So it is life we seek
While engaged in a struggle with death
To remain to live to love
To take just one more breath.

RLB