Life's Truths Poem by Mark Kosek

You cannot truly succeed
unless you've tried and failed.
You cannot know true freedom
unless you were in some way jailed.

You cannot be a true winner
unless you've been introduced to losing.
You cannot have true self confidence
unless your ego has had some bruising.

You cannot know true happiness
unless you've experienced sadness.
You cannot be truly sane
unless you've had a touch of madness.

You cannot know true joy
unless you've known true sorrow.
You cannot enjoy true riches
unless you've had to beg or borrow.

You cannot truly hear
unless you've tried to really listen.
You cannot truly see things
unless you've in some way lost your vision.


You cannot know true love
unless you've lost a love thought true.
You cannot truly smile
unless you've frowned a time or two.

You cannot know true laughter
unless sometime you have cried.
You cannot truly live
unless some part of you has died.