Death, how old are you?

Death, how old are you?
"I am as old as your friend, Life."

Death, unfortunately
I know not my friend's age.
"You fool, don't you know that
Your friend is as old as his earthly hope?"

Death, what is earthly hope?
"Earthly hope is man's future eye,
    future heart,
    future role,
    future goal."
Sri Chinmoy, The silence of death, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973