The Fragility of Life

The Fragility of Life

Life is fragile like a spider’s web,

But strong when the threads are

Strung together against wind and rain,

Like water cascading into a pool,

Splashing, spreading, shapeless

Among rocks and leaves floating,

Swept into the foaming froth

Of bubbling liquid spring, sucked

By the sloping stretch of earth’s terrain.

Forever flowing merrily

Until stopped by Man, building obstacle

To Life. Is Life the Man,

Or Man the Life?

Or is he pretending to be God,

The creator and destroyer?

-  Khoo Soo Hay

-     11.10.2007

(In response to the tragic demise of a friend’s wife’s accidental death at an untimely age.)