Exhortation

what now do we create

these paths of thought and toil so neat

were I a betting woman I'd say

that thinking and saying does not make it so

when we lie through omission or lie through good intention

or when we lie with our thoughts and our hearts go unmentioned

we cannot help but live smaller than 

live more craven than

if we flew stronger higher and longer

and when confronted chose the path that was harder

perhaps then we would know a greater plain

certainly a greater pain

but perhaps with it a new kind of sane

that was sweeter and cleaner and fuller

were we but colored birds singing and wending our many stroked and tenuous ways through fruit and overwrought branches

perhaps the way would be clear and the branches unthorny

but in the decisions that face us each day

we wend down a way that

can turn quite stormy

so save up, brave up, listen up

inside your chest you'll find a beat that may sound corny

or sweet or strange or brave

but listening you'll be better off

than muffling it in a silent cave

as rain sluices down the fruits and candies and fire may rain down from above

know what needs you have

bet on them, and you may even find love