We never ought to fear the great unknown
Since Mother Nature sees us as her own
In our existence she had her own say
And to her bosom we'll return one day.

The goldfinch singing on the sunlit tree
Is he any less of a mortal than me?
He breathes and sings and through the woodland fly
And I like him too one day have to die.

Of status, wealth and fame we well may dream
But at the end it comes to nought 'twould seem
Time's clock on us it keeps ticking away
And we quickly age and go into decay.

The river that inspired the bards to rhyme
Flows on despite the ravages of time
The people like the Seasons come and go
But to the ocean it forever flow.

With your wealthy mates in high class restaurants you dine
And you only drink the most expensive wine
But one day for you it all has to end
And like the pauper you won't have a friend.

We never ought to fear the great unknown
Since Nature always sees us as her own
And whether we are buried or our bones to ashes burn
To Mother Earth we one day will return.

Francis Duggan

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-never-ought-to-fear-the-great-unknown/