Far too often it seems that cheaters and brutes win the day, and honest and kind folks get the short end of the stick. This poem is a meditation reminding myself that character, whether good or bad, and whether of an individual or a nation, produces destiny. In short, you can’t cheat reality. The means produce the ends. The ancient wisdom of character is destiny is a version of Gandhi’s famous, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Of course, one person doesn’t get to create (or destroy) our collective destiny, but we each get to add our character to the world, moving the world in one direction or the other. Character matters. May the world be full of hearty characters with robust character.
Destiny is as Character Duhs
They temped to hide
But it is futile
Character has its weigh
High and low
Weather a punch in efface
Putting on a show
Or a subtle wisp
For awe to see
Relentless ripples
Haunting echoes
There is a deep order
In each accede
Destinies of every kind
Reality can knot be cheated
Even if you can’t see it
