i choose to love

 

in my youth too many days, too many years mine eyes

were closed, mine ears were deaf, for the life that i was

given that i now feel was filled with too much grey mist

and mirrors, and with too much noise

not until my life teetered into the thoughts of no longer

possibly existing did i open mine eyes, looked around and

began to listen to the sounds beyond the noise, for i came

to the realization of how this life is a gift to be embraced

not unlike most sages in history, common human beings

like myself question the existence of a deity, of a ‘maker’

ignoring excruciating anguish life has bestowed upon me,

wondering why there is no intervention to cease this pain

like so many that have witnessed and have been victims

of life’s discomfit, tragedy, disenfranchisement, through natural

causes or destruction, of evilness from human persuasion

and the loss of loved ones, we experience this and question

but as i have been fortunate to have survived my personal

travesties and have been fortunate to have, somewhat with

grace, learned that life, itself, does not recognize my pain

and sorrow, so it’s my choice to accept and embrace it

the greatest lesson i have learned from life is; I have

a choice as to how i meet these challenges and whether i

disavow, disdain and hate, or choose to embrace life' tears,

its joys and smiles, but most important, to Love