potential(pəˈtenCHəl), toward perfection

potential(pəˈtenCHəl), toward perfection

success(səkˈses), and the(T͟Hē,T͟Hə) other

By Henry H. Walker

how is the world better because you lived(liv,līv)?
how are you better because of how you lived?

I see a new-born child,
full of possibility(ˌpäsəˈbilətē), of potential,
as if each of us is God’s next attempt
to allow potential to be perfected,

too often, we are seduced(siˈd(y)o͞os) by things, by money,
by self-worth as measured(ˈmeZHərd) by superiority(-ˈäritē,səˌpi(ə)rēˈôritē) over others,
whether in our bank account, or in our religion(riˈlijən),
we push ourselves higher by pushing down others,

should we not bet(bet) our lives(liv,līv) on love instead?
on finding self-worth in addition(əˈdiSHən)
of connection upon connection,
of finding others as colleagues(ˈkälˌēg) and not competitors(kəmˈpetətər)?
we should want our hearts to overflow,
to give more than to receive(riˈsēv),
to find the mountain(ˈmountn) we all should climb(klīm)
and feel our own success when another summits(ˈsəmit).

http://henryspoetry.blogspot.sg/2018/02/potential-toward-perfection.html