What is life?

it's the cry of a baby in the still of night
the sound of suckling at mother's breast,
the misty breath on a wintry night
the call of the dove from its warm nest

the wings of a dragonfly in swiftest flight,
the bark of a dog that kindles fright,
the fanciful journeys as brain takes flight,
the spray of salt sea with waves winged white

life is the favour one does for another,
the joy, the smile, of father and mother,
life is the name of all-hallowed one
who saw end of time ere world had begun