The Journey

stars are made
of simple stuff
helium
hydrogen
that is all

at the end of
a large star's life
when it's fuel
is spent
when it dies
it collapses
on itself

and during
this rapid collapse
atoms are crushed
together
to create
new heavier atoms
the carbons
the oxygens
the irons
all those atoms
we need
for life

and then
it rebounds
it explodes
into a massive
display of light
and energy

and the heavy atoms
the stuff of life
are spread through
the universe
to be used to
create life

we are the
stuff of stars

in this
simple urn
are elements that
began their existence
in the death of
a star

they began
their journey
in the explosion
of creation

for over 49 years
these element's
journey
came together
in the miracle
we called
michael

they came
together
to create
a body
and a
spirit
we all
loved

that spirit
is gone
it left these
elements
at the beginning
of the new year
it left on
a journey
that i cannot know

but that spirit
called michael
left it's mark
on those
it touched

wherever that
spirit's journey
takes it
it leaves those
that were
changed by it

and now
the elements
that came
together
to let that
miracle happen
begin another
journey

a journey
to the sea

and maybe
a journey eventually
to become
another life

and maybe
a journey eventually
to become
another star

without
death
there cannot
be life

without
life
there cannot
be death

the cycle
never ends

the journey
never ends

with all
our love
good bye
michael

bon
voyage

good
journey