We all die, but do we ever live?
We once were children,
but did we ever grow up?
When we graduated from college,
did we do what we loved,
or did we work on Wall Street
to make millions, if not billions?
When we married our spouses,
were we always faithful,
or did we sleep with others?
When we joined the country club
that never allowed Blacks and Jews,
did we ever think we were racists?
Did we love our children,
or did we prefer playing golf instead?
When we joined the Episcopal church,
did we pray to God, or was it more
important to join the socially elite?
Did we ever come to realize
we have always been fakes.
Did we finally have an epiphany,
or did we follow our hollow ways?
I fear the latter. That's why I pray
for you every night of every day.

TOD HOWARD HAWKS