my birthday present

my birthday present
My awesome birthday present 1/26/11 (see story under my first post)

Sunday, August 26, 2012

choices

There is a great deal of wisdom packed in this perplexing little poem by Nikki Giovanni.

Choices

if i can't do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don't want
to do

it's not the same thing
but it's the best i can
do

if i can't have
what i want    then
my job is to want
what i've got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more
to want

since i can't go
where i need
to go    then i must    go
where the signs point
though always understanding
parallel movement
isn't lateral

when i can't express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal
i know
but that's why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry


—Nikki Giovanni

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