You all know how I died,
And I do not.
But I hope it was a fantastic
Spectacle of how to make your heart stop.
I hope I died flying backwards
in a crimson ball of flame,
Or fighting off a tiger
that never could to tame.
I hope I died with a smile on my face,
Beaming from ear to ear,
Or laughing so that everyone around
Could hear.
I hope I died doing something
To which my mother always said “No”,
“But if we don’t try,
How will we ever know?”
I hope I died not waiting for
Air to no longer suffice,
Lying in a bed with a tube
In every orifice.
I hope you did not let me age
And forget you,
Because I would be
Filled with regret too.
So I hope it was a spectacular expression
Of more than just existing,
I hope they oohed and aahed while
I flew through the air a-twisting.
And I can see some of you are grieving,
yet I know not why,
Because this is a celebration of
Life having been lived
And not a sombre lullaby.
So fill your glasses,
Cups and jugs,
And let’s see a smile on those
Ugly old mugs.
There’s a lesson too be learned,
and that is clear to see.
So without much further ado,
“Here’s to me!”