The birth and death of a person
is certain
but we do not control where
we are born
or when we enter this world.
We do not choose our parents
Though sometimes they choose us
We have no say in the color of our skin
The shape of our eyes
The freckles on our face.
What matters
in the time we are given
to live a life
is the people we meet
the places we see
the smells we breathe
the sounds we hear
the hearts we touch.
What matters is
the person
we allow ourselves to become
in the short time we are given
to be.