fire of this life

a message for my children and any others who care to overhear
if ever you have a choice in the matter
and nobody will suffer should you choose it
choose laughter over anger every time
choose the sifting waters of a sigh
or the soft wind of acceptance
lest you be consumed in the fires of injustice
and indignation
and suffering
and empathy
and hate
and shame
and determination
and loss
and fierce, fierce belief

but mostly the fire of anger
ever-bubbling anger
righteous anger
unyielding anger
lest your life ever be fire, ever expanding, dissipating, exploding, melting, spitting, surging, seizing
wearing your own body away while you walk, as you talk, even while you sleep
lest you burn down standing up straight, choose laughter, children
if ever you have a choice in the matter
if ever you have a choice