Living

To watch the sun set in the west
Without regretting;

To hail its advent in the east-
The night forgetting

To touch the cup with eager lips
And taste, not drain it;

To woo and tempt and court a bliss
And not attain it;

To fondle and caress a joy, yet
Hold it lightly;

Lest it become necessity and cling
Too tightly;

To smother care in happiness and
Grief in laughter;

To hold the present close – not
Questioning hereafter;

To have enough to share – to
know the joy giving;

to thrill with all the sweets of
life – is living.

To have and to hold from this day
From this day forward.

Amen.