Serenity, by Doris Lagrasse

To walk when others

     are running;

To whisper when others 

     are shouting;

To sleep when others 

     are restless;

To smile when others

     are angry;

To work when others

     are idle;

To pause when others

     are hurrying;

To pray when others

     are doubting;

To think when others

     are in confusion;

To face turmoil when others

     yet feel composure;

To know inner calm

     inspite of everything -

This is the test of Serenity.

Not A Sad Thing...

Photo by Sweetverni (Feb. 2012, UP Diliman, QC, Philippines

Loneliness is not a sad thing, 

but a discrete openness to a presence 

that the heart so long desires. 

A presence that may fill an empty space, 

or may clear out an occupied place. 

The heart has its own time to feel and fill,