A day like any other
saw a naked man
posing in the mirror
as thoughts within him ran

"What a man I truly am!
"What a wondrous beast.
"What a glorious work of art!
"Does my beauty ever cease?

"I can bend a bow and pull it taut
"I can string it readily
"I can, by strength, bring down my prey
"and use it steadily

"to conquer all the flesh upon
"this great big planet earth
"never was there made a man
"who was so great from birth!"

He admired himself for near an hour
He treasured every hair
Every muscle.. every crevace..
Every that and there..

Yet deep within the recesses
of his beating heart
lay a secret longing
he'd long since bade depart

A-covered up in scholarship
A-powdered down with spice
A-rolled so tight into a ball
by all his deepest vice

His many 'wards and trophies..
they boldly preached his name
and people came from far and wide..
attracted by his fame..

to listen to his wisdom
from many battles fought
to glory in the merest glance
which from him they caught.

And so went life day after day..
his admirers never ceased
his heart so merry, his eyes so glad..
yet still remained that cist..

And one day back again a-posing
he looked upon his gains..
he gandered forth on all the triumph
for which he took such pains..

And though the satisfaction..
had seemed so great and true
his heart felt.. no... it couldn't be..
empty?  no way.. could you?

"I mean", he thought, "What more is there?
"What more could there be?"
Yet the deepest recess dared
still utter its quiet plea.

He shrugged it off.. but it grew louder..
its voice he could not deny..
he sat a moment on his bed..
and to it gave reply:

"How could you be really right?
"Whyfor are you here?
"Must you pester me again..?"
He quieted to hear

What that little whisper quiet
would say in return..
And when the voice did seem the quietest
He heard one word:  "Learn."

He saw the future.. far and wide..
his trophies and awards..
growing tarnished.. turning grey..
now littering the yards

In sale by sale.. none fetched a price
all to be thrown away
tossed in the fire and used as fuel
for not merely a day.

All the treasure he'd heaped up
was now in ashes gone
and in a home for broken down
he lived his days alone

Oh there were others in this place
but they knew not his name
they knew not of all his doings
they forgot his fame

All he was, was just another
man to clothe and feed
a man whose strength had turned to weakness
with alarming speed.

He glanced back to the present..
he ached from what he'd seen..
he wondered if this was to be...
or merely just a dream..

Merely just a vision
of what still can be changed..?
He thought a moment.. and wondered how
his life could be rearranged

to keep his trophies and awards
from to dust becoming
then once again he heard that whisper..
deep within him groaning..

"Learn" it said.. and once again
He was ta'en away..
to a place he'd never seen..
a crux along the way.

He saw a broken building
which barely housed its keepers
a room or two.. maybe three..
to house 9 or 10 sleepers..

A pot upon the fire
smelled of watered broth
which was all the food these ones
could ever to afford

Yet as they all sat down to sup
he saw something.. in their eyes..
way down deep into their soul
it reached.. and did it rise

and bless the everything they suffered
so that they found great joy
in even meager circumstance
that they had this day.

He wondered at this peace he saw..
He wondered at the joy..
until upon the mantle did
his eyes to rest and see..

A little baby, no.. a man.. 
who was this he saw?
Lying in a feeding trough..
blanketed with straw..

was a little child whom
he knew he'd seen before..
back when *he* was just a lad
back when by the score..

his parents both had taken him
to the holy place
where he'd heard about this child each time
and about the grace

which the God who gave us life
poured unto great and small..
unto any heart who'd ask
and unto His name call.

But back then.. it was just a game..
they were only words...
could this child of years ago
be really one who heard

every prayer and every cry
which was from heart sent forth?
He thought a moment.. as the vision
phased and then reformed..

He saw a man in great big crowds
and was reminded of
all the fame he'd once received
but this man taught of love..

He was no sportsman.. nor did he
claim scholastic degree..
He did not have great stacks of awards..
or even a single trophy..

Yet something deep within His eyes..
showed peace beyond compare..
and beckoned unto all the people
who were gathered there.

His vision faded.. he thought, "His name.."
he knew what he must do..
and so within that little home
a light within him grew..

and none too soon.. for day come next
his pulse began to fade..
until asleep was he then found.
Yet he had learned to trade..

all his dusty trophies.. 
all of his awards..
for something greater than the sunshine
and all the other stars..

his heart, he gave.. 'twas not too late
he shared his deepest pains..
and in his soul came God in truth
to share the latter rains..

and grant him peace down deep that day
which he'd never known..
which echoed in the deepest depths
beyond his blood and bone..

His heart was now a new one..
His life was changed within
and though he may have never preached
a single minute's sermon..

and though he may have never brought
a single soul along
he was granted then to share
with all of Heaven's throng

in the glory of the Father..
and His perfect Son..
forever to be whole and pure..
forever to be one..

And so this day.. be not dismayed..
For all can find His peace..
but hurry now.. do not delay..
for e'en your pulse shall cease.