Ownership~by Paul F. Lenzi

 

 

Ownership

 

“Focus and Determination”
Painting by Hasaan Kirkland
From sanjosedecalasanzdeduitama.edu.co

own your life
no one else
has your power
no victim or shill
ever got there
except by assent
to surrender

own your life
choose to use it
mark moments
no matter
small deeds
it’s the doing
looms large

own your life
or give forfeit
to forces
of mayhem
with no love
for you
or your kind

own your life
it’s the key
turns the lock
loosing shackles
on liberty
man in possession
of manhood

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“Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is an intellectual quality; an attribute that belongs not to fate nor chance. Neither possesses it, neither is capable of it. There is nothing moral or immoral in the idea of it. The definition of it is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.”

– John Adams