When Death is the extinguished flame
from a wick exhausted
with no chance of re-ignition,
no hope of reward
nor fear of punishment,
with nothing after the End,
why bother?

I bother because
I want to know more,
read more books,
teach more classes,
learn more languages,
gaze at more stars
through my telescope.

Because I want to indulge
in the delights of this world,
smell more flowers,
drink more wine,
sample exotic food
from every continent
and whole trays of dessert.

Because I want to experience
all the pleasures available,
seduce curious women,
bold and demure,
funny and serious,
chocolate and cream skinned
and all the shades between.

But most of all because
I want to help others.
There is so much suffering to relieve,
wounds to bind, pain to soothe,
hunger, thirst and loneliness to ease.
Because when my mind flickers out,
I want someone else to be glad
I bothered.