First Things First Poem by Mustafa Marconi

First things first
My spirit yearns for truth
It craves the light
And hungers for heavenly insight
I arise each and every morning
Intent on being the best that I could be
Cognizant of the obstacles before me
The many tantalizing propositions
That mysteriously falls gingerly into my consciousness
Asking me to forsake a piece of my soul
For an opportunity to walk with the upwardly mobile
And the economically secured
As with all things
I internalize every proposition
And evaluate the pros and cons
But ultimately it is weighed
Upon the ever evolving scales of my moral compass
First things first
I have to be a man of conscience………..
My spirit longs for peace
It desires harmony and tranquility
It necessitates that I pause for a moment
And appreciate all of my blessings
I journey each and every moment
Mindful of my mortal limitations
Unwilling to allow my vulnerabilities
To trample upon the serenity of others
Or to bring any form of unpleasantness or discomfort
Into the life of one of God's children
The bitter juices of my earthly voyage
Were designed to nourish and strengthen me
And like the woman I take in marriage
Never to be shared with another
First things first
I have to be a man of peace………….
My spirit requires freedom
It embraces values and ethics
As it strives to manifest integrity and decorum
I conscientiously pass through this physical realm
Fully aware of the fragility of my human existence
Understanding that a second too fast
Or a second too slow
Or an unfortunate twist or turn
Can abruptly bring about my demise
So I endeavor to rise above
Social, political, or religious dogmas
Whose tenets eventually lead
To physical, spiritual, or mental conformity
For a slave by any other name will always be a slave
So I dictate who, what, where, and how
I stand proud and strong
Uncompromising and undeterred
For this is my life
And first things first
I have to be free
And I have to be a man of love, decency, and righteousness