Smiling Alone
The strength to be weak
to see oneself
-- one’s weakness
and to accept it -- in front of
everyone
The strength to change, to move on -- against the tide --
all alone
The strength to demolish -- that which one had built
in many long years
with one’s own hands
in great pain and with great love
And the strength to dream -- once again
The strength to build again
to demolish again
and to dream -- yet again
The ambition to achieve -- nothing
The ambition to make the effort
And the heart to see that -- as achievement
The courage to lose, and to see that -- as triumph
The courage to bear -- persecution, banishment
And the power to take revenge --
by forgiving
and loving
and giving
The gift of giving -- one’s own self
without letting anyone know
and of smiling alone
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