The Only Choice

The Only Choice-a poem

From the darkness of deepest mud
Destiny drives a lotus upward
Down beneath to rise
Surface towards the Sun
Spreading its blossoms
And penetrate the air in aromas
Repeating its sweet refrain.

The mist makes shifting mirrors
Illusion presents two paths
Dividing our attention
Separating us, its trap
Snares our best intentions
Exaggerating extremes to emphasize
We must chose or be dissatisfied.

Suffering arises from the insatiable
Satisfaction with sacrifice
Leads to pain and loss
A flower without the sun or rain
Whose roots find no soil
An unnecessary starvation
A life with a premature end.

Defeat is dirty water
Disappointment the cloud
Blinding us to reality
When you settle the dust
Your mind sees the sky clearly
Emptiness is the union of all things
And your blossom is the only choice.

Copyright © 2016 Charles Edward York