Just As Likely (Poetry)

There are no guarantees in life
none at all.
But there is always a chance
however slim
that somebody will love us — care
just enough to make a difference.

They tell us love is all we need
as though it’s some eternal truth
that once we find it everything
will of its own accord fall into place —
a nice idea undoubtedly
but just as likely flawed.

We come into this world alone —
no choice involved in when and where.
We search for something all our lives
imagining we’ll know it when it comes ...

The stars blink on — blink off again.
Was that it? — That over-far-too-soon
giddying illumination?
Impossible to say. We can only guess
as the enigmatic years slide by
and threats loom — disease and war
the dread of growing old
while we hang on — stoically convinced
somehow love will save us after all
it’s what we’re living for
or so we’re told.