The Last Wake Poem by Steve Santerre

Heaven’s dance, soul and light
Harmony be us, with all your might
Lift us up, lead us to
The garden of eternal fruit

Nebula of purple daze
Celestial bliss, peace in existence
Of life, beyond our own,
Of life, beyond what is shown.
The inner, oh not the outer, enlivens us,
Neither the weak nor the strong are we,
Definitions forgotten, curiosity aroused
For today is the beginning of a new life,
Words, ideas, creations, all begin, and end
From the inherent will of a person

Shine by tomorrow’s rise
In mid-day, yellow I say
Heat, height, supreme in sight
Familiar is the light, know I of it?
But surely its image is assuring
Its grandeur is uplifting
Oh see it wave and rise, sink in size
Distance, it curves, distance, it fades

This world, strings of life, shapes and shades
Know we of what we are, of what we seek?
Have we limits, have we?
Repeat, experience, end
Hear me, wisdom do transcend, do.
The labour of centuries, the inventions of yesterday
The precarious fight for breath, for tomorrow
Reach, climb, believe, that is it, believe

Steps, small at first, gentle, slow, but worthwhile
At moment’s time, the past is but a window, a view
Of actions, and of memories, fears and emotions
I dream of a place, and I take all of who I am with me
The smells of autumn leaves, of green grass and trees
Touch of soft skin, of animal fur
Sights of white clouds, of smiles and pleasure
Sounds of whispers, of enduring chants
Tastes, replenish me, the taste of life, only once, only once.