A Life Well Lived

Until the hours have fled far from me,

Until the days have slipped into years.

Until old age has worn my body down,

And dimmed my eyes or stopped my ears.

Until the sun has set at last on my day

Let me lay hold of life with strength.

Let me live it with passion and fury,

Until I've run it's breadth and explored it's length.

There will they speak of my work,

And then my story they shall tell.

Of how there once a man who knew how to live,

And indeed, he lived his life well.

Let them speak boldly of my fame.

Of a life well lived and a course well run.

I will then go gladly to my eternal rest

With no regrets and nothing undone.

Yet until that dark hour has come upon me,

The day of broken swords and shattered shields.

Leave me to take hold of all that I can,

To receive all the plunder that this conflict yields.