Determinism by Patrick P. Stafford

DETERMINISM

                 1

The moon may cry that you are a hapless lover

and there is not one passion worth living for:

every flower that grows is doomed to wilt,

every light that glows is destined to fade,

and every love, ever real, will gradually deteriorate.

Nevertheless, I cry unto you and only you

to love on long and strong and true

and never relinquish your passion!

Even if you defy love,

you will acquire love!

Even if you denounce love,

you will inspire love!

Even if you resist,

you yield.

                  2

The sun may cite that you are a hopeless dreamer

and there is not one vision worth striving for:

every radiance of youth is squandered on the young,

every brilliance of wisdom is wasted on the old,

and every dream, ever dreamt, will cynically evaporate.

Nevertheless, I cite unto you and only you

to dream on great and straight and true

and never surrender your dream!

Even if your idea is reviled,

it will remain invincible!

Even if your vision is defiled,

it will remain indomitable!

Even if you fail,

you succeed.

                  3

The stars may claim that you are a faceless hero

and there is not one cause worth fighting for:

every valiant soul is tarnished by despair and doubt,

every gallant goal is ruined by treachery and treason,

and every heart, ever brave, will tragically capitulate.

Nevertheless, I claim unto you and only you

to fight on proud and loud and true

and never betray the cause!

Even if the battle is lost,

you will triumph another day!

Even if you stand alone,

no power can stand in your way!

Even if you lose,

you win.

                  4

And the world may charge you are a useless philosopher,

that there is not one conviction worth dying for:

every profound concept is corrupted by pessimism and hate,

every renowned belief is tainted by skepticism and fear,

and every truth, ever true, will eventually disintegrate.

Nevertheless, I charge unto you and only you

to reason on requited and excited and new

and never forsake your determinism!

Even when the mind is suppressed,

it will transcend the physical cosmos!

Even when the spirit is repressed,

it will ascend the spiritual universe!

Even when you die,

you live!