Dangers And Wonders Of The Heart Poem by Boston Kelley

Look at the heart, such a mysterious thing;
Peer deeply into it and be amazed.
It offers much to be explored, much to be
understood, yet, it is not always understood.
So much stems from it, every emotion and thought.
Influence does it possess, seizing control of
whomever it resides in.
Who can say it is not a dangerous and wonderful
thing? Who would refute such a truth?
The heart is a fickle thing; the throne of every
emotion known to man.

Out of the heart come all love and hatred;
it births the cruelest and most tragic types
of evil.
Here, men harbor their love for evil and desire
to care for and be kind to others.
See how love inspires compassion and kindness
for the fellow man while pride and arrogance
produce prejudice and discrimination.
Without love, how can there be compassion?
Without pride, how can there be humility?
Each one is meant for good despite its flaws.
Love is blinding; barring the mind from truth.
Love is dangerous; fiery passion finds its strength
in it.
Love produces lust; it leads men to act
irrationally.
What better can emotions be when it reduces men
to wild beasts?
Without reason, how can there be balance?

Emotions consume and devour all they touch;
yet, they inspire and teach us.
Children are taught to respect and show kindness
for evil produces evil.
Morals exist to give reason for being noble and
pure-hearted.
If a man is taught only to hate, how will he ever
know love?
If he is ignorant of pride, how will he ever be humble?
Teach those what emotions are proper and instruct
them on those not to cultivate.

What have we been reduced to other than
pleasure-seeking creatures?
How have we not let emotions drive us?
They coerce men to act on impulse, to think without
wisdom.
How are they not equal to the beasts?
Do animals not live solely on instinct?

Should I surrender fear and hatred, will I not lose
my knowledge of it?
If I purge myself of all destructive emotions, will I
lose both good and bad?
I tell you, the heart is a mystical thing, its many
wonders and dangers have yet to be understood.