The Ascent

The Ascent
By Brian Cooper

There once was a man who suffered from an illness
He was therefore granted medication to eliminate his stress
In taking the medication he appeared not under duress
But in his mind was both joy and sorrow’s mess

His senses were dulled so he would capitulate
It appeared he had with what medication he ate
But he remained in a karmic emotional vegetative state
That led to a desire to feel more of what made life great

Through this mental state he could not discern his existence
But rather only imitate those who made the most sense
He proceeded to travel through life avoiding those most tense
Only to graduate to the point of becoming emotionally dense

But he happened to ponder through imitated logic
A way for him to escape his personality’s colic
And enjoy life again as a child he once did frolic
Through a change in his medication’s biologic

Upon this change he threw away the fog of antidote
And began to thankfully again smile as he wrote
The medication that caused his mind’s eye to cloak
Was gone from his sight and now he does gloat

The illness had been dulled but his thoughts were clear
He realized his suffering was but a path drawn near
To his life so he can learn what he valued dear
Learning he suffered so that he might one day be his own seer

He realized his suffering was not wasted and in vain
Because of all the knowledge he had organized and gained
He drew into a convulsive state and without disdain
Thirsting for more understanding through suffering obtained

He finally concluded that a human being’s life of ailment
Was but a course in an education of peace and contentment
So that we may know joy fully and without dissent
And strengthen our soul’s ascent to enlightenment