Character

i was speaking with my mother the other day and she was both telling me how she is not able to do some of the things she used to and at the same time reminding me that it is character first and foremost. In the end it is not how many times you fall but how well you end up after picking yourself up. While she is not four score years until next year i used "poetic license."
i was inspired to write this poem.

Character
Four score and an eternity
She lived on this earth
Growing tired day by day
As she awaits a new birth

Reflecting on what has been
She sees from wisdom
Deep within
At what is important
What is not
And what has brought
Such deep thought

The importance of life
Born from strife
Is the character created
From the challenges we face

Tests come and go
What they mean
We may not know
But in the end
We grow
The stronger the tests
The more it will show

In the end it is not
the outward beauty
nor is it occupation or things
born of this world
it is the character that shines
when all else will fold

Look not upon
things that shall pass
look to character
destined to last
Take heed to this
And you will have bliss
For after many years
Finally
you will
know this

shiidon August, 2007