Empire of Dirt 

After 35 years of Life  

I find myself in uncharted territory 

Beyond the borders of my experience 

I’ve experienced loss before but not like this 

Never someone so close 

So important 

Never in the midst of such change 

I’ve never hurt this way before 

Where before I used to look at the stars and see their grandeur 

Now I see the insignificance of myself and others 

I see how quick and brief  

These flashes of light that are our lives are 

Reinforcing the idea that we must accomplish so much 

In order to have an impact with that brief flash of light 

It takes so much to turn that brief flash of powder in a pan  

Into a comet that comes around  

Again, and again  

To turn that comet into a star or a satellite  

Seen for decades long after its life has ended 

It takes an amazing effort to make an empire out of dirt 

From dust we were made and to dust we will return 

But to make a lasting impact is an effort that seems impossible 

But when you see it in action after someone passes it seems like they did it effortlessly 

Oh Lord hear my plea let me build an empire out of my dust 

Not for me or my glory 

But so that I may shine as a beacon of hope even long after I’m dead and gone 

To remind others that life is not meaning less and hopeless 

It is rewarding and amazing but  

Like everything else in this world 

It requires your blood, sweat, and tears to make it so 

I will build my empire of dirt cemented together with my blood, sweat, and tears 

To serve as a lighthouse 

Upon the shoals and rocks of despair 

As a towering beacon over the caves of existential dread, and depression 

To remind people that there is another better world  

Outside of the places where they find themselves.   

Open yourself to new horizons, to worlds beyond your ken 

For stagnation is death 

Comfort is the beginning of the end 

And experience is not meant to be repeated over and over for eternity 

You were always meant to add to it