I have known sorrow,

I have known sorrow,

Would that I had not.

Even though

I have chanced to learn,

Would this life

Have been so much worse,

Had those many lessons

Not been meted out,

With such wanton

Disregard

For the toll

Their imposition

Would make on my

Weakened constitution.

How would I fare,

If life

Were to start anew.

With the opportunity

To test my self

In other situations.

Would that those opportunities

Be presented again,

Might then the outcome differ.

And introduce

A host, of such infinite proportion,

With possibilities, so broad

As to widen the chance to

Escape all

That life has thrown

This way

And bring me satisfaction.

Or, no matter what

My intention,

With lack of foresight

To ensure a different

Perception,

And take my journey

Off this beaten track

Unto a new, less demanding

Smoother landing,

That is altogether more

Subtle and gentle

In its lessons of persuasion,

Would life

Have always been this way.

Or, might this

New perspective

Lead to other, far horizons,

Brought them closer

And forged a better, brighter me,

With time to spare,

And love to share,

So much more freely

Than is my wont

Today.

Or, is it in truth,

No matter what

I or you may actually want

A fact, that

There is no intervention

To alter

The course of our lives.

They will unfold,

In part

And in spite

Of ourselves.

And it is beholden

Upon us

To make of them what we can.

The time is ours to fill

We must trust

In our ability

To use it wisely,

And to the full.

Utilising all we learn

Exercising all the choice

We have.

And trusting

In the nature

Of whatever this is

We call,

Our own free will.