The path unfollowed follows my mind,
The path unfollowed mocks me blind,
And entrenches deeply in my wound,
Now in the path of the wild I must swoon,
To reclaim my sight.

This stage, my heart,
Greets entering friends
As shades,
Not shadows,
Of their younger selves.
Despite disappointments
And promises,
Firsts and lasts,
Skins and sins,
Joys and sorrows
And bags and sags...
I still see YOU,
My first, longest and oldest.
The ever ones,
Bob and John.

Feelings can't be replicated
they are specific- moments created
each bears its particularity and nuance
every encounter is marked by difference-

(say) a man is attracted to a woman
the first sight induces a wild passion
when they fail in love at a later date
that rush of affection might have disappeared:

of such human nature is made:
there's no known way of escape.

This is the problem of many:
they seek blindly to acquire knowledge
in such a rush that much can't be digested
they are likely to court misery:

I'll be content with the little that I know
in patience to gradually grow
it would be better to excel in a tiny area
than to try to go beyond only to suffer failure.

1 Speak honestly
2.  Act graciously
3.  Accept gratefully
4.  Give generously
5.  Help readily
6.  Befriend selectively
7.  Carry out your work dutifully
8.  Co-operate unfailingly
9  Listen attentively
10.  Observe mindfully
11  Think broadly
12.  Contemplate calmly
13.   Deal justly
14.  Win fairly
15.  Negotiate magnanimously
16.   Aim realistically
17.   Forgive unequivocally
18.   Respect reverently
19   Avoid acting recklessly
20. Pray devoutly