To hold 
the gates
of the 
heart open 
despite pain
requires love 
but not 
of others 
but only 
of oneself 
for in
order to 
give one 
must have 
no man
who has 
not loved 
he himself 
will ever 
be open 
to receive 

The lack 
of want
and satisfaction 
of need
gives rise 
to peace 
desire is
a deterrent 
causing loss 
of focus 
and freedom 
to remain 
self true
inquire as
to what 
is lacking 
in life 
that pursuing 
one’s desire 
hollowly fills 
ignore desire 
for desire 
is simply 
the minds
seduction to 
choose the 
easy way 

To live 
ones life 
in pursuit 
of some 
better than
is folly
instead what 
one might 
do is 
accept that 
having once 
was already 
better then 

He was young 
when we met 
a dopey kid 
wanting a life 
what about yours
I kept asking 
what about mine 
I’m getting there
getting where exactly 
and rather than 
getting shouldn’t you 
be going instead 
getting isn’t going 
getting is lazy
whereas going is 
how you become 
the young man 
wishing to be 

Once there was 
a younger guy
who had questions 
about a life 
what does this 
what does that 
why why why
I answered honestly 
that doesn’t matter 
none of it
what does though 
what you want 
is what does 
not why never 
why why why