A poem about ALS, overcoming the fear of death, and living the best life possible.
The Rebirth
You must die before you can live, he said,
For this is not a returning to health but a rebirth.
So I laid down my burdens upon the earth,
While holding my gaze upon the sky,
And took a step forward.
I have no need to return to where I’ve been,
For I was younger then and this path has shaped me,
Much as a master carver whittles away at wood,
Shaving away excess so that all that remains,
Is a man with no fear of death.
For I have walked through the fire,
Faced myself in the mirror and found love,
And I do not mourn but honor the death of who I was,
For it was that path that brought me here,
To this place of grace and gratitude,
In which I can now more fully embrace life.
Ryan Farnsworth, 2017