Being

Photo by J. Sharland Day

Our being—

                                    A rented space

                                                To house our given souls.

                                    A framework

                                                Of unique construction

                                    That is built but once,

                                                To maintain,

                                                Improve,

                                                Appreciate,

                                                Enjoy.

                                    A privilege.

                                                To many, yes.

                                    A pleasure.

                                                Not to all.

                                    Those recalcitrant in its care

                                                Destroys the lighted interior

                                                Of once warm-filled rooms,

                                    Leaving broken shards

                                                Of glass-strewn emptiness

                                                Rotting,

                                                Unrenovated,

                                                Unrenewed.

                                    Fenced in with

                                                Weeded beds of waste,

                                                Haunted by unheeded neglect,

                                    A structure once strong

                                                Now stands in

                                                            Deprecation,

                                                            Decay,

                                                            Destruction.

                                    Care withdrawn,

                                                Love suppressed,

                                    Gratification renounced,

                                                Empty,

                                                Alone,

                                                The windowless edifice is left to die.

                                                                        The deed unsigned

                                                                        An evicted death

                                                                                    Not denied.

                                                The builders of life and love

                                                            Value the choice

                                                                        Of renewal,

                                                                        Renovation,

                                                Sharing in the strengths of

                                                            Concrete foundations,

                                                Building upon mortared brick-work

                                                            Of body and mind,

                                                Opening the door to

                                                            Well-being,

                                                            To happiness.

The dwelling is vast.

The rooms are filled.

Fires brightly burn within

            The hearth of soul,

Lighting the windows of

            Love-filled rooms,

Bestowing a warmth

            Unto the world.

A sun-strewn attic

            Filled with volumes of

                        Venerable memories,

                        Vestiges of unhallowed thought,

Negates a pious sanctity,

Sustaining a pedagogy of

                        Educational Truths,

                        The mind,

Its wisdom,

Its wonder.

                                    A descent into the alluring heart

                                                Of residency,

                                    Augments the joyousness,

                                                That giving love provides.

                                    There is a building of pride,

                                    A gladness of being

                                                That gratifies the soul,

                                                The essence within.

                                    In this dwelling of life,

                                    An inner knowledge is stored,

                                    Readily brought forth:

                                                Time does not destroy,

                                                            The essence of existence.

                                                We disregard,

                                                            We destroy.

                                                Indifference

                                                            Exterminates.

                                    Maintenance adds years

To the fragile walls of being;

                                                Love adds life

                                                            To the interior of the Soul.

It is then when

                                                            The lease of this rented space

                                                Is once again

                                                            Renewed.   

Photo by J. Sharland Day