A Million Miles        10/21/2020

 

Long Long ago

And a million miles away

Stretching backwards

Time has changed

Detached, discordant

Distant, and strange.

 

Bits and pieces

I remember

Feelings, faces

Colors and emotions.

 

Remembered in waves

Flooding forth

Asleep and awake

Transition points

Happy, sad

Piercing and painful.

 

Pangs of despair

In sudden reflection

The regret of loss

Unrecoverable

And heartbreaking.

 

And what are

We to do?

Once our eyes

Are opened

And we understand.

 

It is then we know

If we have learned

What we can control

And intend to grow. 

 

If you have ever

Been forgotten

Then be the one

Who always remembers

 

And if you

Have ever been rejected

Then live your life

With open arms.

 

If you ever

Felt worthless

And alone

Then be the man

Who shows respect

And loves many.

 

If you have ever

Been betrayed

Then be the one

Who is trustworthy.

 

And if you

Were ever falsely

Accused

Then be the man

Who tells the truth.

 

If you were stabbed

In the back

Then be a man of honor

And if you were ever maligned

Then have a heart of gold.

 

If you were wounded

And kicked when you were down

Then be the one

Who is kind

And merciful. 

 

If you were ashamed

Of your life

Or even your name

Then be the man

Who makes it known

For who and what he stands.

 

But also

And most important

Always pray

For everything

And everyone.

 

Finishing the race

Head held high

Straight ahead

All the way over.

 

For those who

Know love

Know also

How to give it

Without condition

Or expectation.

 

Given freely

Authentic

Sincere,

And true. 

 

More than enough

And more than worthy

A priceless treasure

That cannot be won,

Swindled or earned. 

 

Taking back

All that was lost

The least become

The greatest

And the last

Over and above.