Falling

'Tis a solemn requirement
A prescription most sacred;
The Realm MUST be entered
with pure heart, clean hands,
and a sealed soul.

Throughout the journey
Stumbling blocks, snares
often unforeseeable;
Moving forward, not always smooth

No allowance is made.
Going back; there had never been
A genuine experience -
Rebirth breaks umbilical cords
The reborn is like - a butterfly

Unpredicted, or premeditated
When in filth and shame, found today,
Were all the years of peace
Still the Outer Court?
When, as a dog to its vomits,
The heart begins, once more
to long after yesterday's vanities,
Had the sacrifice been washed?

Baptism is not achieved
before the first two steps.
In the Realm's most Inner court,
There is no turning back.
When old habits prevail
and a little voice warns,
Is it conscience?
'Tis a solemn commandment.

Experience Does Teach

Who is to bring to fruition
The accumulated lessons of Experiences?
Does time, eventually, lead to
The manifestation of a life
more tried and approved?
Or does experience simply
shape life as time goes by?

Many are the times
a famous saying has pierced the ear:
Experience does teach.
If this be true, what is this teaching?
A lesson that instructs one
to become less open, more selfish
and even more suspicious of a fellow man?
Or a positive teacher that makes
its student a better citizen?

Over the years, hurt has
Made many lose the ability
to trust and to love and to forgive.
Then again, over the years,
Ignorance has led many to
lifelong and irreparable mistakes.

Experience - a useful tool, perhaps
It all comes down to
What one makes of it -
Either it shapes into a better,
more learned and more prudent person
Or it transforms into a cunning,
self-centered methodist.
Experience teaches, but
one's understanding of its lessons
is what shapes tomorrow.