NARY ONCE ALONE

Celebrate the voices

that reside inside my head

They've lead me through this living

And will greet me when I'm dead

They're composites of the people

That I've met along my way

They wake me in the morning

And carry me through days

You can call them what you want to

But I think of them as home

Even in my times of darkness

I've been nary once alone

They have freed me from my blindness

As they gave me eyes to see

What was cause for awe and wonder

Or the source of pain and need

They've steered me from my blunders

Humbled when I should atone

Even caught up

In my epiphanies

I've been nary once alone

They remember what's forgotten

They remind along the way

Of do cause for fame and fortune

Of due pause to stop and pray

Lay my enemies asunder

Pointing out where I should go

They use my voice

With wrath and thunder

I've been nary once alone

One will speak as fallen

Remind me life is what we take

Yet another - speaks as solemn

Tells me life is what we make

"Integrity is central

- In everything you do"

"Longevity is mental

- Don't-let-stress get to you"

"There is beauty in each second"

"The bigger picture's all that counts"

"You are the sum of all these moments"

- There's not a one you should discount!"

Though diverse in their opinions

Together they speak a single koan

Which reminds me

- Over and over

I've been nary once alone