Imagine the day after....

Every now and then

 words pop into my head

words of women and men

to be said after I am dead

my life rolls on before me

I halt it here and there

taking stock of my life’s journey

did I cruise or did I care

I hear them all articulate

pretty much the same

a  fairly decent friend and mate 

heeding  all the rules of the game

good father, and  a husband true,

as rabbi, teacher  grew

to be more honest , test things new

trying hard to be a little more  loving too

an effort made, with poetry,

and many words of  prose

to touch a depth of integrity

its goodness only God knows

to see life as a gift,

 lesson learned a little late

and not make  short shrift

of every open gate

will it matter what they say

I’ll hear them not I’m sure

but to imagine  being ever away

some sadness now can cure

what’s left behind 

is now my focus

so others will find

something genuine, not hocus- pocus

a passing smile

a kindness here and there

without shrewdness and guile

just doing what’s considered fair