Life. br br It starts. br It ends. br br It's the bit between br That depends br On the vagaries br Of the lottery br Bound up in the verb to be. br br Some with an average life expectancy of many years br Barely having time to take a breath br Before being taught their first and fatal lesson br By the chalk white claws and incisors br Of the jungle blackboard's hunter-teachers. br br Mayflies draw the shortest straw: br Just a single, solitary day, br And then only if they keep well out br Of the Rainbow and Brown Trout's way. br Dragonflies don't fare that much better br If the truth be told, br Four or five glory-filled days at most: br Enough to mate – never to be old. br br Most birds manage to see the seasons turn br Once, twice or more br Provided they aren't taken br By heatwave or winter's ice-white jaw. br And Man's Best Friend is thought generally lucky br If he gets to see the other side of a decade br Even with the benefit of the comforts of home br And all the veterinary advances made. br br Man. br Theoretically three score years and ten, br But really just the time between 'now' and 'then'.