on a roll and it's all uphill

why does man always wish to fight
what he’s been destined for
some illusion of glory and greatness
some delusion of keeping score
and when you’re listless, dull-eyed and tired
from the effort of the standards you maintain
you might try for one moment
to simply walk in the rain
remember life’s sweet pleasures
remember it’s all a gift
it’s not a contest
it’s not a game
it’s an hourglass in which to sift
constantly through the sands of time
choosing, grain by grain
a treasure, here
a beauty, there
collecting the happiness and the pain
for you hold not one without the other
and from that there’s no escape
there's death without those minutes of glory
that sustain your heart during the rape
of your senses, your strength
and your sanity
the hours of toil and misery
all for one blessed moment you cannot yet see
when the curtain parts and falls away
when the heart on your sleeve is now on display
you can do what so many cannot
what most of them have always dreamed
why do you think you can turn your back on a gift
and in doing so, somehow be redeemed
from a perfect, unattainable dream

the meaning of life is forever sought for
but the purpose of life is often ignored
to live… to bravely face the day
to walk the path into the fray
of obstacles, with head held high
to look frustration in the eye
to overcome, to learn, to grow
to love - and one thing most will never know
to use the talents you’ve been given
to the fullest – whether it means that you’re living
inside or out of the public’s view
it only matters to the heart inside you
not living up to a standard of somebody else
nor setting your goals far too high for yourself
but to live and know your limitations
is to grow within them and perfect the creations
that come from your soul
no matter what level
or skill class or ranking or scale
and no matter if it brings you success
or you fail and you keep going on
because it is who you are
it’s not something you pack up and save in a jar
to abandon the blessings with which you were created
is to spit in life’s face and be hopeless
and jaded instead of
the beautiful something you were destined to be
no matter who listens
no matter who sees