Leave . . . Live

Leave it unsaid and you find that the saying
Left more thoughts unspoken;
Belittled your praying.
You see that words only
Come one at a time and
Unlike their first thoughts, are forever lonely.

Leave it unfound and you see that the finding
Left more to be wanted:
Reality’s binding.
You see that the treasure
You’d have given all for
Means more as a hope than actual measure.

Leave it undone and you find that the doing
Left more stray ends lying;
More half-seams ungluing.
You see that deeds cannot
Ever be complete, and
The project was more wonderful as a thought.

Leave all un-everything and you find that all
Left more dreams to perish;
Let more chances fall.
You see that what you had
Was less than you’d hoped for
And nothing worth having could e’er make you glad.

Leave . . .

Think it and say it, and you’ll find that saying,
While never quite perfect,
Is well-worth the praying.
You’ll see that words always
Will find that one heart which
Needed to hear what their first heart had to say.

Seek it and find it, and you’ll see that finding
Has victory! Is so
Much better than nothing.
You’ll see that the worth of
The thing you have found is
Not in how it measures, but in how you love.

Take it and do it, and you’ll find that doing
Is reward itself. For
There’s groundwork in gluing.
You’ll see that deeds build on
Each other, so that though
You never are done, nor are they ever gone.

Live all of everything and you’ll see that all
Was far more than enough;
Made the big troubles small.
You’ll see to endeavor
Was part of the purpose.
All things you remember are yours forever.

Live