first cry,last sigh

At the first cry
the earth rejoices arrival

at each step in life
its twists and turns
meander,
but still there are cries
that glide to gentle sighs

engorge on love
and taste the heady height of risk
and then,
trawl the darkest alleyway
to experience,
just once

the agony of reality

in a flickering flame
drift to dreamland
with the knowledge
the sapling of youth
will become
the great pines
of the earth

and at death
a life lived,
will be met by cries
of a celebrated
coming home