by ANNA KELLY
as a child
the meaning of life is fun:
tag and scraped knees and laughter and endless summers
as a teenager
the meaning of life is learning:
homework and tests and love and heartbreak
as an adult
the meaning of life is family:
children and their first words and their soccer games and kissing them goodnight
and as an elder
the meaning of life is reflection:
memories and regret and contemplation and peace
most people say that the meaning of life is one definitive thing
but it’s not —
it’s all the little things in between