B4 the after

I heard her story, ……
Felt something stir within,
A time gone by, a distant memory;
Almost killed a dream, knuckled under, just gave in!

The world was unkind,
It was easier to hate,
Self pity was all I’d find,
Hell had no heaven to negate.

 A sliver of goodness,
Pierced the darkness then.
Where defeat could egress,
Perhaps hope would filter in.

 Lucky was I?
Able to hang in?
An ‘instant’ to live or die?
Strength or lack therein?

Matters obscure to the mind,
Are wont to a hasty judge.
Lessons to be learnt; in time; in kind.
Yet, its water under the bridge!

Time’s a healer; Time’s the leveler.
And it waits for none.
In time I crossed over,
To behold all the undone.

Come a whole circle,
In a game of lost and found.
Older by the day, even wiser a little,
On newer paths; to destiny bound.

Yet, a prayer; an endeavor perpetual,
Life as a good example!
Victory promises the paradise eternal,

Failure; a benchmark, warning terrible!

                                                   - Shru.