The Alchemist's Struggle

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Relentless attempts to live by
Self-serving notions
Inescapably bound to the demand for
Humanitarian sanctions
Carefully considering the sagacity of my
Second-guessing
Advancing to find these
Transcendental pursuits
Dissolve under mistaken emanation

Watch your step, watch my back
Don't worry, I've got yours
What is truth, what is loyalty
When personal fulfillment keeps the score

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
Masterfully permeating this Ethos
Seasoned with empathy undue

Unable to separate my experience from this
vicarious understanding

Helplessly I watch this reproachful ambush
unrelenting

Selfish subconscious weaved within the promise of friendship
the betrayal

Hope unyielding

The greatest gift

Stand back up, keep faith
Experience will see that we prevail

Still dreams hold priority
Without even a thought

Choose always kindness for others

In a place where uncaring is fraught

© fragment, 2020 (Katherine Bernhardt)