THE FLAME

    Somehow, mysteriously, you come to be—
    The spark of life ignites between two cells,
    Then you begin your Earthly odyssey
    And for awhile in you a spirit dwells:

    The essence of your being, your heart’s core,
    That wakens to expansive consciousness
    And opens wide occult perception’s door
    To spectacles beyond what one could guess.

    Or so it is for those who make the quest
    And aim to follow that mysterious light
    Within, assuring them they’re loved and blessed
    When they pursue what’s generous and right.

        Then when you die, what happens to that flame?
        It’s out—unless you’ve earned enduring fame.

*