I have seen eyes fail
hearts falter
and courages flee
in the face of adversity;
Character's True Test.

I have seen reversions to form
erasing progress;
failures to reach out
to grow
steadfast subbornesses
unto Self-Inflicted Suicide
where the Human Spirit paled;
where weakness,
addictions
and greed
envy, jealousy
fed upon
my imperfections
surpassing positives:

where I've failed to grieve
when I should have:
failed to love
to reach up or out
blinded by my own
Tattered Needs
my own Gnarled Focus
blamed others
avoided responsiblity;
but in all this
one thing I eventually gained
with the help of others
is to forgive myself and others--
perhaps
the grandest capability
we
humans have
that coming from
the abilty to transform
the human soul
even
when the odds
are worstest
from Demon Seed
to Flower
from
a Taking Hand
to
a Giving One
where the odds increased
dramatically
from self-honesty
and Prides' Demise
altering
that path
from self-delusion
to clarity.