And when I look back on my life

And when I look back on my life
At the end of my days
I should not think I would say:
"If I'd only had this, or that
or married her, then truly
I would have been happy!"

Yet rather I think it would be:
"Had I only stopped to reflect a little more
Had I only but more time to adore
If only to have gazed off a bit more
Into the beauty wide and waiting

"If to have ceased from all the petty toil
Or less to carry the angst and worry
That oft plagued me to hurry
To rush about with no end or direction in sight
And no knowledge of whether day or night

"If only a little more to have seen the sun
Rise and fall - to have been there
To see it all

"To stop and see the buds that blossom
and see the seasons change
To help the poor man in his distress
Or share a day with a friend
With no care of when the time should end

"If only, if only, if only..."

But now, even now, while the days are still but young
May I but spend every one
With the hope of what is to come

That I may then say:
"Ah, twas time did fly fast
Yea at least it was well spent
I've little to regret of it
For the many things of which I was blessed
Those whom I loved or lost
Yet found the time to share

"We found some joy in our early-mid days
And in the eve did thy glory praise
Yea though these hours were precious few
They were but glimpses of a greater
Reality to pursue"

For there the time is always new
It does not toil or spoil
It simply is
And spent with great extent
And satisfaction

Each moment is a wondrous event
And the next is far better than
The one before it spent

To simply share it with
The lover of life
Our greatest friend
Tis here the story hath no end
But simply new
Richer and fuller days

Tis for these of which we eagerly pursue
From this vantage point
Our goal lies
Just a little ways beyond
The mountains there

Where the air is fresh and full
Of sweetness
Tis there where our home shall be
Tis there we shall spend it
You and me

And so this life
Though hourly wasting away
Tis eagerly spent
Towards preparing
For that glorious event

-Joshua Lee Foist