HEAVEN’S WHAT I WANT

The mea culpa I rattled off?

Life had me measuring my own worth

in how much I could accumulate:

the electronic toys, knickknacks, trinkets—

collections of nonsense that will sit

on dusty shelves after I am dust.

I climbed that ladder for elusive

success. I broke hearts. I lied through my teeth.

Then one day the locked door inside me

came ajar and I could feel the rays

of grace seep through and save my soul.

To win the world and lose eternal glory?

Only a fool would accept this false profit.

The massima culpa to condemn me?

Fool me once, imperfect world, shame on me.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

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