Ode to those who, in the dark, dance: A poem 

How life can be an endlessly winding crucible of pain 

Those that are resolute and brave, and do not feign 

That they can be snared by evil, but yet have goodness reign 

And so let opportunities slip by, but do not self-disdain 

That one can be dazed by mishap, but be miraculously unfazed 

For in innocence lies the choice of virtue and evil razed 

That power and glory are not life’s aim, but self-awareness 

Good faith is the victory of the soul, not material intelligence 

To those that have been granted the gift of light 

May be that you, for altruism, use that insight 

And not be in it for selfish personal gain 

Lest you unscrupulously should dare to deign 

For greatness reflects with those who, in the dark, dance 

And, in all virtuosity, bear the cost of misfortune’s chance 

But by the voice of conscience are armed with fateful strength 

And tune their soul’s antennas to God’s resounding wavelength