This Life's a ‘Fair of a Mere Four Days’!

Life in this world, where none forever stays,

Has been likened to a fair of a mere four days.*

It’s a ‘mere four-day fair’ and then we will go,

Oh yes, it’s really that brief, truly it's so!

Our stay’s end will arrive soon after its start,

When our ‘four days’ are up we must depart.

It’s for a very short time that we are here,

So, why waste it in strife, spite and fear?

Why squander it away in greed and hate?

Let’s change our ways before it’s too late,

For, almost as soon as we on Earth arrive,

On this plane just ‘four days’ to survive,

We’re whisked off into the Great Unknown,

Made to that destination to go all alone,

So, while it lasts, let’s enjoy this brief ‘fair’,

A chance we’ve been given that is so rare,

As a group of friends visiting a fair might,

Savouring each moment in sheer delight.

It’s just ‘four days’ here that the Lord lends,

Our stay here’s so short, so let’s be friends,

And let’s try to spend this life's short span

In being as good, happy and sane as we can.

Knowing that this ‘fair’ will soon come to an end,

Let’s each of its ‘four days’ in the best way spend!

(*The equivalent of this phrase is found in some South Asian languages)