the peaceful truth

what happens when we die?
in that moment of release,
do we instantly dissolve
into a never-ending peace?

must we face our lives, complete
with a review of all our deeds?
will we be asked to make amends,
and justify our greed?

will someone come to take us in,
to wherever “in” really is,
or will we have to wander through
our self-indulgent mist:

“i climbed up through the ashes
and made it to the light.
i found my everlasting home;
my darkness now is bright.”

does the ego still exist in death?
will it claim that we earned our place,
among the humble and pure hearted,
within the realm of grace?

or, will we be made to stand
at the crossroad of the soul
where one path brings us bliss
but the other makes us whole

one group will continue on,
seeking pleasure over pain
while a different group will linger
to find out from whence we came

for understanding brings a different joy;
knowledge, a different calm
with simple love and perfect trust
we’ll find what we’ve been seeking all along