With A Few Less Crosses To Bear Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Let it be known...
A true freedom received,
Has had its price for one to pay.
And today a true freedom,
Isn't discounted to be marketed cheaply.
One who has it to express it shown,
Doesn't expect to protect it...
By getting from others an acknowledged respect.

Let it be known...
One who has true freedom,
Is accustomed to opposition...
On a path traveled to journey alone.
With a facing of obstacles to confront and rid.
To stumble and fall and make mistakes to forget.
And forgiving what is said by those with false lips.
Those quick to gossip with shared complaints to submit.

A doing done to move forward without regrets to upset,
One with eyes to experience true freedom...
Has prioritized a life to live with happiness a part of it.
And not with fingers crossed,
Or dreams to drop from blue and clear skies.
One with true freedom has sacrificed.
And when it comes to 'this' one it is not by surprise.
The getting of it is joyfully received and expected.

'I wish I can live like that! '

~I stopped wishing.
I began to want with desire.~

'I'm not ready for that kind of sacrifice.'

~I wasn't either.
Until I awakened to realize,
I had become addicted to the taking...
Of so many poisons I couldn't shake.
And they kept me unconscious.
Now I'm left with just a few habits to break.~

'Poisons?
What do you mean? '

~Impressions to make.
Which possessions to keep.
Beliefs no longer to me that made sense.
That kept a true happiness,
And freedom out of my reach.~

'But...
Unlike you,
I have my needs.'

~I agree.
But I decided I could live,
With a few less crosses to bear.
And no one I knew,
Seemed to need mine to share.
So...
I got them off my back.
Not all. Just some. But with a doing to get it done.~