For 2009 To All Poets Poem by RIC BASTASA

always choose to heal
not to hurt
to forgive and not
to despise
to persevere and
not to quit
to smile and not
to frown
to love and not to hate

at the end of life
what matters is not what we bought
but what we built
not what we got but what
we shared
not our competence but
our character
and not our success
but our significance

live a life that matters
live a life that cares

have a blessed and
a prosperous new year
to all.