Life shouldn't be rated
    beyond what it's not
   beautiful parts there are
   but not all are to be celebrated

  that which is deemed wise
  lies in juxtaposition with the absurd
  laughter is conjoined with tears
  worries often appear in a horde-

  in the web of time, restless and intricate
  frequent fevers are inevitably caught
  beauty and ugliness fiercely struggle
to regain their desired spot:

life shouldn't be held
as certainty---such it's not-
each of us bears our own cross
and we ache silently in heart and thought

copyright Peter Lim. 2024