Looking Beyond Myself Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Stepping through puddles of tears, a lifelong stream
having formed through sorrow and sadness, interior
spirit billowing into an interior spiritual life.

Going through difficulties, suffering and pain to get
to where I'm at now, having had misery as my constant
companion most of my life.

Teaching lessons that I ordinarily would never have
learned along the way, it kept me from wallowing in
self-pity, selfishness and evil.

Making me look beyond myself, seeing that others were
going through their own hells, not having a chance,
for they kept getting lost in the devastation of it all.

Keeping eyes filled with tears on the future, reaching
and holding onto hope no matter how faint it appeared
before me.

Knowing only that faith would keep the light of my being
lit, leading me into depths of self-realization and
truth.

Never looking for lies and illusions, for they never
have any possibilities and are never focused on the
positive in life, only the negatives.