What are we trying to prove to each other?

Why are we trying so hard?

Why do we try to mislead one another –

So careful to keep up our guard.

 

Progress has taken our meaning away.

Wealth has distorted our values.

Luxury’s price we’ve decided to pay,

Rather than face our own failures.

 

How much of ourselves can we really portray –

If we all try to play the same part?

There’s little in life that a man won’t betray,

Once his ego has conquered his heart.

 

What ever made us believe such a lie?

To base our whole lives on such greed.

How much can we take when it’s our turn to die?

How much of a front will we need?

 

I envy the poor for the riches they’ve found,

Their values are simple – but real,

With so much more wisdom, their friendships are bound,

They’ve no need to disguise how they feel.

 

If we could just realize how rich we could be,

And value the truth our hearts feel,

Our lives would be rich with the beauty we’d see –

And the fortune in knowing – it’s real.

 

~ Sandi Burton