Why Is It?

Why is it that good life has to be

Dragged out of a world so full of confusion

And darkness?

Why is it the wisdom of the Far East

Has to be so elusive?

Why is it the beauty of Christianity

Has to be buried from view?

Why is it that joy is so fleeting

And

Pain drags along like an anchor

Linked by endless chain?

Why is it we turn living into a tortuous

Swim against the current?

Why must we always swim upstream

And die while spawning?

Why is it we charge off joyful plateaus

Like mindless lemmings?

Must happiness be buried in Vicodin?

Must peace be buried in Valium?

Why can we not find a piece of happiness

In each human being we know?

Or a slice of peace?

Why do we hide disappointment from

Our youth like it does not happen,

Thus keeping them from dealing with failure?

Why is it that success cannot be found honestly?

Why is it that loyalty is a commodity with no market?

Why is it that we cannot be effusive in praise

When success is earned and less acrid

When failure does occur?

Why is it that everyone is owed something

More than a chance?

Why is it that we believe equal is really equal?

Why is it that when we are all different

We have to charge around bragging about

Diversity when that is all there is if

The experts would just quit trying to make

Us all the same?

Why is it that love is so often riddled

With hate?

Why is it that those things which we seek

We reject when we find them?

Why is it that we are so enamored by things?

Is that the only way we can look in my mirror

And see that we have worth?

Why is it that we pretend war does not happen?

Why is it that we pretend victory and peace

Can be negotiated from weakness?

Why do we fool ourselves so?

Damned if I know.

Mike Mullins, 1/6/09