Haunting Mantra
I awake to “I want” shouting
in my mind ,
nothing other than “I want”.
The question of why
and the guilt of greed hit hard
for I have no needs.
I have never had hunger
and escape cold with
the warmth of hearth and coat.
Pain is not a frequent guest
nor is there a lack of friends
or too many enemies.
If I have so much and need nothing
then why the mantra
with the astonishing request?
If my photo was posted
on the bulletin board waiting captioning
I would with modesty write “generous and caring.”
Greed and wishing for things
just did not fit my caption
so I looked for an answer.
“I want” is out side of me
in the world
where there are many wants.
Perhaps that which I seek
I wish to share with others
what I have always had.
I want, I dearly want
for life to be as good for all
as it has been and is for me.
Doug Minnis
June 17, 2014