by Charles Carreon
Tucson, October 8, 2018
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Simply consider
that the approximate lifetime
of an atom
is eternity,
barring destruction
in a stellar collapse.
Anything that in its
fundamental parts
is so durable,
in a world of things
constantly decaying,
merits reverence.
Yes, the humble atom,
unnoticed in the day
to day affairs of our
life, goes about, providing
the basis for our
physical existence,
and enjoys a continuity
in time far more persistent
than our own.
Our personalities, alas,
have no claim to identity with even one atom.