October 17, 2024 – A

I think of the people just getting by
in Long Lake, New York,
and Tupper Lake,
and Rangeley Lake, Maine
and throughout the United States,
and the entire planet,
and the cosmos,
and wonder why they do it.

What is their motivation?
Their motivating force?
Why do they get up and face the day?

Let's see what good we can do today!
For the joy of doing it,
and the satisfaction of having done it!

And the Buddha?
and the Christ?
Born to die for the privilege
of having lived--
like everyone who came before them
and after them.
To see what good they could do today,
for the joy of doing it
and the satisfaction of having done it.

It is the only motive
for everyone ever always.

We do it to see what good we can do today,
for the joy of doing it,
and the satisfaction of having done it.

For the wonder of it all.

And we would do it again if we had the chance--
for ten thousand billion lifetimes.

To see what good we can do
for the joy and satisfaction
of having done it,
and never having done it enough.

Those who know,
know it is so.

Forever always!