Every Night

What qualifies as life
And what doesn’t can’t be

Listed as sets of traits
Because then exceptions

Of living instances
Missing traits will be found.

And what qualifies can’t
Be defined by a list

Of living things because
Exhaustive’s exhausting,

And the common would fall
Out somewhere on the way.

But you’re fooled if you think
It’s life that’s so tricksome.

You’re just discovering
Through one word that you like,

Short label that’s extra
Important and profound

To you, life, something true
Of all words, every night.