<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">I vow not to burn out</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Or, as I circle the edge of that hole</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">I vow not to throw my plate at those</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">I trust enough to catch it or those </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Deft enough in their aikido wisdom </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">To step aside, while bowing in</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">My direction. I vow to do no harm.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Keep that dark box on the shelf and write,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">No, <i class="">live</i> a new narrative, as best you can.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">If you must look inside, remember to </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Wear your bulletproof vest, helmet </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">And goggles. Redefine success on your</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Own terms, your own timetable.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Rest when your body says rest. </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Cry when your heart says cry, laugh even</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">At what is not funny, if you are so moved.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Excuses are just the ego’s last smelly fart.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">I understand. Just admit you fucked up!</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Breathe into the next opening, this very</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Moment, and vow to give up your ideas</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Of how it should look, feel or feed you.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">No matter your burden, trust that She,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">With her arms wide, will accompany </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">You and this wounded world full of</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Wonder, to the wellhead of Mercy.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Only there, may you drink from the waters that</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Refresh your return to joyful exertion for</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">The benefit of this planet and all beings.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Fran Carbonaro</div> <br class=""><div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 180px; text-indent: 36px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></body></html>