This poem reminds us of the teaching on knowing the better way to live alone.
Do not pursue the past.
Do not lose yourself in the future.
The past no longer is.
The future has not yet come.
Looking deeply at life as it is
In the very here and now,
The practitioner dwells
In stability and freedom.
We must be diligent today.
To wait till tomorrow is too late.
Death comes unexpectedly.
How can we bargain with it?
The sage calls a person who
Dwells in mindfulness
Night and day,
The one who knows the better way to live alone.
To listen to the entire teaching on the better way to live alone or to enjoy a dharma talk on this topic by Brother Phap Linh, see here.