What is there on this earth

What is there on this earth
           that is not of this earth
and what profusion of identities
           from a single source

Every temper and temperament
           under the sun is here
and all things cohere and coalesce
           and all things increase
and all things diminish
           all caught in the curve ball
of time so that age goes
           before beauty

and we are bold enough to ask
           how old is eternity
how wide infinity
           and question all
that the earth affirms
           knowing that our every step
will be counted
           that all our actions
will be judged
           and with every failure to love
our souls will be marked down
           for all time

John Lyons