Impermanence is a black hole

Invisible and irresistible

Sucking up treasures from our lives

In an inexperienced young heart

Impermanence is a nebulous concept

Only through sufferings

Shall we be awakened to its ubiquity

The world has shown us

Things rising up eventually fall

Every gathering ends up in parting

All lives lead to death

Nothing lasts forever

Impermanence needs no invitation

It is waiting around us

Though we do not see it or

Refuse to believe its existence

When suddenly it knocks our doors

We are shocked and unprepared

Devasted, we suffer

When our tears dry up

We bury sadness

Believe impermanence walks away

And will not return

But impermanence will revisit

Showing up when we forget about it

Like inseparable shadow of life

We can only walk alongside it

With acceptance and resilience

Rally when we stumble over it

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States