Vicarious trauma of near-death experience

Can make you wake up to existence’s transience,

And threat of decease or cessation of sentience

Can come as a bit of a shock

 

When someone who’s younger and normally healthy,

Is on an IC ward for treatment quite lengthy,

You pray she recovers and gets through it safely,

But still you will pause and take stock.

 

For all of those friends that you rarely run into,

Because they’re just there, and you’ll meet when you want to,

Take time to consider that sometime for them too,

The Reaper is coming to knock.

 

So value your friendships and take time to nurture

With care and attention, your mutual future,

For no one is ever a permanent fixture;

We’re all of us ruled by the clock.