Math gets it right.
The normal sticks out from the plane.
And if everything is normal
There is no plane.
Life gets it right.
It’s normal to stick out from the plain.
And since everything is normal
There is no plain.
I am all alone.
You are all alone.
We are all alone.
Together.
⇒
I am not alone.
You are not alone.
We are all
Together.
The point of life is to die a good death;
For the time we spend dead
Dwarfs the time we spend alive
And a good death is sung of for ages.
The best odds for dying a good death
Is to live a good life,
So that in the final moments
Those alive sing of your life for ages.
That measure is taken at the last breath
Which brings hope to the vilest of villains:
A bad life can be eclipsed with
A single act of momentous selflessness.
That measure is taken at the last breath
Which brings fear to the purest of puritans:
A good life can be eclipsed with
A single act of petty selfishness.
Infinite sets can be of different sizes.
The set of integers in the universe continues ad infinitum.
The set of real numbers in the universe continues ad infinitum.
Yet reals are more infinite
For reals are manifold between integers
If you know how to look.
The set of ugliness in the universe continues ad infinitum.
The set of beauty in the universe continues ad infinitum.
Yet beauty is more infinite
For beauty is manifold between ugliness
If you know how to look.
Family.
We all have them.
Our parents had them.
Our’s inherit from theirs.
We play with them.
Sometimes we indulge them.
Sometimes we regret.
We fight with them.
Sometimes we expel them.
Sometimes reunions are … complex.
Yet…
When we acknowledge,
Without subservience,
Their individuality…
When we honor,
Without worshipping,
Their power…
When we forgive,
Without condoning,
Their mistakes…
When we discipline,
Without anger,
Their transgressions…
When we support,
Without coddling,
Their struggles…
When we praise,
Without semblance,
Their growth…
When we accept,
Without shame,
Their flaws…
When we cherish,
Without limits,
Their totality…
Beauty becomes them.
We become whole with them.
We learn the nature of love.
Demons.
We all have them.
Our parents had them.
Our’s inherit from theirs.
We play with them.
Sometimes we indulge them.
Sometimes we regret.
We fight with them.
Sometimes we expel them.
Sometimes reunions are … complex.
Yet…
When we acknowledge,
Without subservience,
Their individuality…
When we honor,
Without worshipping,
Their power…
When we forgive,
Without condoning,
Their mistakes…
When we discipline,
Without anger,
Their transgressions…
When we support,
Without coddling,
Their struggles…
When we praise,
Without semblance,
Their growth…
When we accept,
Without shame,
Their flaws…
When we cherish,
Without limits,
Their totality…
Beauty becomes them.
We become whole with them.
We learn the nature of love.
Those who enter the cathedral
Through the back door
On their hands and knees
Covered in filth and fleas
And who sit in back
Shaking back and forth
Praying quietly
Tend to look up
As though their lives
Depended on it.
Because it does.
Those who enter the cathedral
Through the front door
On their own two legs
Covered in frocks and finery
And who sit in front
Heads held proud
Proclaiming loudly
Tend to look side-to-side
As though their lives
Depended on it.
Because it does.
There are two types of pain …
Beautiful pain strikes our ego.
Beautiful pain strikes our pride.
Beautiful pain builds us up.
Beautiful pain teaches love.
Ugly pain strikes our soul.
Ugly pain strikes our honor.
Ugly pain tears us down.
Ugly pain teaches hate.
… that in the moment, are hard to discern.
Beautiful pain can feel ugly today.
Beautiful pain feels beautiful tomorrow.
Our minds cannot discern,
But our hearts know which is which.
Ugly pain can feel beautiful today.
Ugly pain feels ugly tomorrow.
Our minds cannot discern,
But our hearts know which is which.
Both hurt, in different ways; …
Beautiful pain hurts.
Beautiful pain is a struggle.
Beautiful pain transcends suffering.
Beautiful pain nourishes.
Ugly pain hurts.
Ugly pain is a struggle.
Ugly pain amplifies suffering.
Ugly pain kills.
… and both can break us, if we let them.
Fear walks away from beautiful pain.
Deceit weakens as we lie.
Isolation inspires others
To leave us to our fate.
Fear turns to embrace ugly pain.
Deceit weakens as we lie.
Isolation inspires others
To leave us to our fate.
Yet both can serve us …
Courage turns to face beautiful pain.
Integrity protects as we strengthen.
Vulnerability inspires others
To face their beautiful pain.
Courage walks away from ugly pain.
Integrity protects as we strengthen.
Vulnerability inspires others
To face our ugly pain.
… to grow.
Series: Almost, But Not, Symmetrical
As a parent,
Your child’s first diaper
Is no delight.
But you endure
And when you remove the last
You cry.
As a child,
Your parent’s first diaper
Is no delight.
But you endure
And when you remove the last
You cry.
Series: Almost, But Not, Symmetrical
A. B. Clarke 