Who I'm Meant to Be

Some of us search for ourselves on a conscious level
examining each decision and thought
Some skate on blades without hindsight or care
of how deeply our selfish paths slice.

Some lie to our friends, our parents, ourselves
to enjoy what our spoils have bought.
Some go out of our way without knowing why
to help strangers no matter the price.

Why is it that someone with ev'ry advantage
Can squander his ev'ry gift
While another with nothing, or near enough to it,
Can prosper, inspire, uplift?

Are our paths chosen -
Finite pieces on some gameboard -
Are we who we are meant to be?
Can we change fate, spit in the face
of Destiny?
Can we will ourselves free?

In this life the answer will never follow
the questions we don't think to ask.
Discovering who we are meant to be
is each soul's most important task.

Coward or hero; villian or friend;
liar or loyal to a fault;
someone who sees what's started to an end
or brings progress to a screeching halt;
Quicksand that impedes ev'ry forward trend
or a springboard that helps others vault;
A bitter herb that even Love cannot tend
or (with seasoning) Earth's proverbial salt?

Each year, each day, each moment brings with it
the most significant opportunity -
To ask and to answer the soul's pointed question:
Am I who I am meant to be?

© Jeff Wilson, 2009