When Life Had No End

I cured death many years ago.

I extended my life at least a hundred thousand years;

Time lost its bearing on me.

I was a god amongst men,

Immortal, walking amongst my peers with a smile,

Unburdened by the fear of Death lingering around the corner—

It could not touch me.

I could learn every language,

Master every subject,

Gain a sum of wealth,

A true scholar, I could become,

And so I fantasized this life as I began my work;

But I had no need to rush—

I was free from finite.

Yet, days kept passing—

Most I spent doing nothing;

I rotted without time.

I could no longer relate with my mortal friends,

Who would dive off cliffs

Just for the thrill of danger—

I did not know danger.

And they grew old,

While I sat around waiting for tomorrow,

When I would surely make something of myself;

And tomorrow came and tomorrow went;

Another day spent and gone;

Time spent and gone,

And I would never be spent and gone.

I thought I freed myself from Time’s clutches,

That the finite should be feared

When the infinite was what deserved fear

Time’s cruelest joke: Mortality brings about the end of great things

While immortality spoils them;

Time laughed heartily at me.

Long has humanity dreamed for life everlasting,

And so easily I could give it to them:

I could provide safety from Death who lurks at each corner;

But then, when they walked past those corners,

And reached out to Death,

They would be ignored.

I spoiled my life in playing God, I will not spoil others.

So, I sit all day now,

By myself—

All I knew are dead.

I’ve tried to end it,

But I did too well to evade cruel Death…

No, Death is not cruel, but kind,

And I, foolishly, have rejected its offer.