Poem of the Week

“Live Like We’re Dying”
Songwriters: Andrew Frampton; Stephen Kipner; Daniel O'Donoghue; Mark Anthony Sheehan

Sometimes we fall down and can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough
Till it's too late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
We could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you
What would you wish you would've done

Gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got
86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbyes
Should be so careful how we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution
There'll be no one on the line

You never know a good thing till it's gone
You never see a crash until it's head on
All those people right when we're dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it's gone

Gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start livin it
Every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got
86, 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying
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The song above was made famous as the first hit single of American Idol Season 8 winner Kris Allen, but actually originated from an Irish pop group called “The Script.” Regardless of the source, I am grateful. This song reminds us, in a compelling and creative way, that our time here on earth will inevitably expire, and so we should make the most of every day. The “carpe diem,” “no day like today” theme is by no means fresh to our ears, between modern plays and movies like “Rent,” but I do admire the way these lyrics incorporate modern-day scenarios and relatable metaphors to the “live with no regrets” mantra, making me feel saddened and inspired all at once. Reading the lines above, I got a clear sense of the fear felt on the last day of a life, and the wistful feelings of regret and desire for just one more day that may very well come with it. “We’re hiding behind/skin that’s too tough” is probably my favorite line, exposing the true nature of people, while encouraging the healthy release of positive emotions like love and kindness. To me, this poem says, “Don’t be afraid to show people you care, to express your love. Life’s too short to waste time on insignificant matters.” Because in the end, what does matter are the relationships you’ve fostered, the time you’ve shared with friends and family. And more than ever, in this “isolating age” (as the Rent song “What You Own” so aptly puts it), I think people need reminding of that. At the end of the day, it’s your life; what will you make of it?

- Miriam Harari

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