Should all man's exertions and efforts come to naught br (as all are wont to do in time's vast flow) br crumbled with ages, fallen 'neath the sea, or so br totally lost through numerous means, existence fraught br br with peril: fragile as a leaf tossed in the wind, br blown thither & yon, dancing along a flowered field. br Like the leaf we need pray for grace to yield br to Spirit's breath so our souls surrender, dance in kind br br and worry not of anything we may leave br nor of reputation's gilded or tarnished lies: br To perceive self with loving yet unjaundiced eyes br accepting those truths with detachment, not grieve br br a false image or what we might gain or lose, br but take back our power, our freedom to choose.