It's true the life of the body is a candle burning toward the end. And there is the other candle of essence, grown in size - a slender taper. The single flame elongates; grows brighter. A voice inside tells me: "the life your body will end, leaving many parts unfinished". Perhaps I will be in peace at the end and the two flames will blend. The voice of me attached to my body says - "Yeah right."

In the meantime I employ the wisdom of my grandmother's unwitting zen koan: "Take your time and hurry up." lol.