This brief glow.

The atom lives forever  
or so I've heard said,  
ten to the thirty-fifth power  
it were in a book what I read.  
 
Now, we are built from atoms  
bound in our body mass,  
on death, released, what happens  
Why', they are put out to grass!
 
Or wrought to air, composed as such,  
and from this mortal blow,  
free forever, as I clutch,
to my brief glow.