Day six of the 100 poems in 100 days threads project brings us to reflection, memory, and the quiet ache of missing those we love. Today’s poem, Life Expectancy, explores the stark reality of time lost and the enduring shadow of absence. As we approach the end of the holiday season, this poem reminds us that love and grief are intertwined, that the moments we have with those we care for are precious, and that the time spent apart stretches longer than we often anticipate.
Life Expectancy
How melancholy it brings me
to be,
when
reminding myself
I’m likely to miss you an eternity
longer than the time I got with you.
Though I know our time in this life
is never guaranteed,
if my life expectancy is at minimum
average,
what I’m saying will ring true
More of my time will be spent
missing you,
your light,
and your love,
my sweet mother,
than the amount
actually spent with you
Though if this proves untrue,
I will have been plagued
by joining the good in dying young
Either way, my projected
forecast,
bleak, and for longer
than the coming week
Poet’s Note
Life Expectancy came from the deep reckoning of loss. Writing this poem allowed me to put into words the enduring ache of missing my mother, the arithmetic of love and absence. The piece reflects the tension between the fleeting nature of life and the permanence of memory. This is a meditation on grief, love, and the small, precious moments we hold dear. It is a reminder that poetry can capture both sorrow and reverence.
Day six of this 100-day poetry journey underscores the truth that love outlasts the life we are given. Life Expectancy asks readers to reflect on their own relationships, the moments shared, and the times lost. As we read, we are reminded that today is the only day, and the memories and love we carry are infinite. Through this poem, I honor my mother’s light and invite you to hold close those who matter most, to cherish each fleeting moment, and to confront grief with honesty and reflection.
Whisper to the void it might whisper back