Tears of Strength

A young girl,
not two weeks old,
unfit to live without pressure,
so her body proved feeble.
Though my sister she remains,
with a strong spirit on holy wings
did she depart from me.

A quick and witty lass,
deafened by the world
and defeated by temptation;
I couldn't compare
to the man of riches and fame...
now, with a humbled heart,
I can only watch:
cunningly charmed away by wealth's serpent
did she depart from me.

Slowly...
  Surely...
      Silently...
          I wither within...

Defeated and lost in the war of my mind,
shards of glass and rose petals
fall upon the gray-scaled slabs,
playing their darkened concerto
on the piano of my stage of cognizance.
I recognize the tune, and also my heart,
scattered atop the keys as the scene fades white.

Then - I make my move:

Tears streaming,
I pick up the music at the taper,
and create my own tune to match
a more forgiving heart.
In the midst of my playing,
the shards rebuild themselves;
a patchwork heart of humbled construction.
My mind speaks aloud:
"I cannot allow sorrow and hatred
to rule what I had to restore -
to never again see the path I have tread,
I must be better than before."

On that note, I ended with a pact:
since I know the sole of these shoes I've walked in,
I will guide others through this path,
and away from the sadness it holds
for travelers like myself on Life's way.

It was a night for a knight,
pleas and repent against Sea's serpent;
virtue and wisdom to slay
negative-emotional sway -
among which one must realize:

To hold love's rose in your hand,
it is not meant to be released;
the thorns may bite and tear,
but letting go hurts worse.
Better yourself,
and you as well as others
will learn to respect the wounds they cause,
and will feel that much better when they heal.