A dying atheist’s prayer….
“I am a man alone in the cosmos”.
But there is no suffering in me
True there is no place to go
No bearded One
Or fantasy of redemption
But I rest serene
In a state of knowing
That this suit of carbon atoms, a perfect fit
Was used before–in a rock, a plant, a T. Rex perhaps
It is a borrowed vessel
Spewed forth from the dying supernova
The literal star dust that illuminates me
Those atoms of carbon that became me
Are themselves immortal
And that is enough
And so I sparkle
With the soul of billions of carbon beings
Each with their own consciousness
I am illuminated
My password is gratitude
My deepest silent knowing
That borrowing means
You have to give it back
What was never mine to own
An honor to recycle
Can you return a suit that has been worn?
In this story there is no other kind
S.E. Hodes