What did you come to the earth for
A voice said to me…
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I came to hear the whistlers whistle
And to hear the players play and the singers sing
I came to see the dancers dance
And to watch dogs play and to hear bells ring.
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I came to see the sun rise and set
And the earth change through the seasons
I came to see all the earth's little and big creatures
I came for all these reasons.
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I came to waltz with my fellow humans
Through shops and museums, restaurants, churches, and concert halls
I came to witness the passions and struggles of humankind
In homes, schools, offices, farms, factories, hospitals, tents, and under bridges, in rehabs, in courts, and behind prison walls.
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I came to marvel at human progress
Houses, phones, medical devices, games, architecture, and cars
I came to worry about the persistence of human problems
Greed, cruelty, pain, injustice, violence, mistrust, and wars.
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I came to see, to think, to act, to worry, to pray
To breathe, to eat, to sleep, to experience, and to love
I came to feel the wonder and awe
Of art, insights, miracles
And that which comes from looking beyond and above.
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I came to witness, know, think about, act upon
To taste of life, bitter and sweet, what is my share
I came to experience all there is to life
Brief, precious, fragile, as a candle flame
Gone with a single puff of air.
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Inspired by 1) hearing someone whistle 2) reading about Oliver Burkeman's 4000 weeks and Cosmic Insignificance Therapy, 3) my recent trip to San Diego, and 4) a precious little dog called Ollie.
