A Year of Stories (Collection Three)

Things You Should Know Before You Live

Things you should know before you live: a canticle for the newly human, and those aspiring to be.

Up is up and down is down.

Lies are bad, but so are frowns.

On occasion, you'll meet new friends;

On occasion, friendships must end.

There is such a thing as too much gold.

Even good men must grow old.

Never miss your part to play,

Or your chance to walk away.

The world is great and big and wide,

With grand adventures found inside,

But the human heart is bigger still,

And that right heart, a bigger thrill.

Never regret that you are you,

With flaws and grace and virtue too,

With hands and toes and eyes and ears,

With depthless loves and darkest fears.

There is so much here for you to learn,

To change, to hold, to keep, to spurn;

That you may feel too small, too frail,

That all you do is to no avail,

But remember my dear child, my love

That you can shine, Can rise above,

That within your heart sleeps wider world's,

Within you soul a dragon curls,

A beast as bold as it is wise,

A thing of beauty, pride and size,

And that with your help,

This noble snake,

Can awake.

Can awake!