How to Give

Compose yourself, my conscience cries,
No good was ever done in haste;
There runs the road to woe and waste.

No stranger to unspoken lies,
I ask myself what I should do—
Believe the inner voice is true?

No matter where this voice comes from,
It brings much-needed clarity
Without which I'm no longer me.

Some other person I become
When standing on the outer ledge;
I need to move back from the edge.

For kindness to take root in ground,
A patient method must be found.
Self-sacrifice is not the goal
When helping others to be whole.


©2016 Michael Fraley




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