86, 400 seconds , a day has passed 
And a new one has come 
Sunset sunrise
I open my eyes and I am just happy because
Thank God I am alive

Thank God I am alive!
There is life within me 
And there's no stopping this energy 
This zeal, this vibrancy
Glowing, beaming, because I want to do something 
With. My. Life. 

And it cannot be in vain 
I want my life to be like rain 
Overflow till i can't hold it no mo'
Bursting, Splashing on a person nearby so that they too can be filled with life

Life is like grass 
It can be cut too short 
Wrong place, wrong time
A gun, a car, or a note left by suicide
Due to the murder of someone's confidence 
War, disease, natural disasters 
Death is just plastered on this temporary home we call Earth

This is not to sadden you or to arise anger 
But why are our lives such strangers 
To each other, that we do not intertwine ours with theirs to somehow make things better

We live in such a materialistic world 
Surrounded by signs and billboards 
Of cars, and rich people, and money
And its funny
Because as if those things could measure up to the worth
Of being someone rich in character

Society is too materialistic
We rather better ourselves than others
We ignore the cry for help from our sisters and brothers
We come during their success but never know how they got there
Life and death is no joke
You live life rich, die broke
Each day you live is a celebration but what will people have to remember you by in your graduation from life
He was rich but her personality was so warm I could use it as a blanket

So I start a blank list 
A to do list for myself 
I won't ignore the poor man on the street even if a smile is the only penny I can give him
I won't do community service only because it looks good on a transcript
Forgive those who've hurt me, love those who love me, hold tight to friends and family, because life is too short for vanity 
Things that are temporary 
I want a legacy that is everlasting 
For people to see Jesus in me

You can't put a price on that 
You can buy education but not wisdom 
You can buy sex but not love 
You can buy as much pot and liquor your heart desires
But not a lasting happiness; that temporary happiness eventually tires

So I'm calling you
To take a deep breath and forget about the money 
The jewelry, the people, the cars, the degree 
Because your success is measured by that character you have come to be 
Strong, confident, passionate, courageous, wise, loving
Qualities that can only be personally shown
So as I end this poem 
I pray that you have been inspired 
To perspire for a self-less life 
God bless, good luck, and, a good, night