The path at your feet

was also my own

Not so very

long ago

The choice before you

was mine once too

before I breathed

this air quite through

Take care to consider

the life you decide

for fools that men are

can be wrapped in their pride

Some things are lost

Some things are gained

But there's no way to avoid

Some measure of pain

Only in the humility

of a soul adept at grace

can one hope to endure

life's bittersweet embrace

Fear not the mark

of men who don't know

nor the forked tongues

of the ones who think slow

Carry your head

above your heart true

Walk through the flames

until the gold shines through