POETRY

Truly, heaven and hell are not
In another realm, dimension, or place
They are right here and now
Alas, there is no salvation
But peace is possible and real
 
There are those women (and men)
Who when they meet someone
With something over them
They become conflicted
Jealous and truly exasperated
So they set out to get something on them
Perhaps a filthy lie, to smear them
 
They seek anything to bring them down
To demean and humiliate their betters
And they always manage to convince themselves
That they have it and have found it
 
This is the only way they will have peace
This is the only peace they know
This is how they manage to put themselves at ease
 
But you know another peace
A true peace, calmness and contentment
A peace with yourself and with others
 
You know your strengths and weaknesses
You compete with no one
You demean no one
You target no one
You know who you are
And you are secure with that
 
You are like an icy alpine lake
Cool, transparent, and calm
You have composure
Only the blind can miss it
 
Always sincere and true
You are genuinely friendly
You dislike no one
You have so little venom
 
Marriage to you is an eternal bliss
It is freedom from needless agitation
 
Alas, there is no salvation
But peace is possible and real

-Rotterdam, Netherlands