LIVE AS A WITNESS
SEE AND REPORT TO YOURSELF
LEAVE JUDGING BEHIND

I STRADDLE TWO WORLDS
Inner and outer 
Alert not to lean too far

FOLLY AND WISDOM
An opposite pair 
At times in subtle disguise 

AS LONG AS ALIVE
Live with a purpose
To give purpose to living 

FOR PROTECTION WHEN FALLING
Have a safey net 
Respect, love your yourself

RUNNING AWAY FROM ONE'S SELF
Is going nowhere 
like running in place

ARROGATING FOR ONE'S SELF
A ROLE OF A JUDGE
IS A WRONG JUDGEMENT

THOUGH NOT MANDATED BY GOD 
Reciting prayers
Is of proven value

WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT
A seedling will sprout
So it is for an insight

AFTER ALL IS SAID
Words are only metaphors 
For the actual

ONE'S PHYSICAL SELF
Is both barrier and gate
To realizing God

ONE'S INNER CHANGES 
Will only occur through Grace
And self effort 

REFLECTING ON LIFE 
Is not for wistful thinking
But a wish to learn

IN SELF DENIAL 
Conscious subconscious
One denies a chance to heal 

IN THE MUNDANE WORLD 
Man suffers greatly
By reason of ignorance

THE EGO CAN BE SUBDUED
Only with God's help 
Never otherwise 

TO PEEL AWAY IGNORANCE 
Layer by layer
For the taste of Truth 

THE RIPPLE EFFECT 
Of an idea
Has lasting consequences

NATURE COMMUNICATES 
In infinite ways
That it cannot be mastered

BEYOND THE HORIZON 
There is a great deal
The eye cannot see

BEING IMPATIENT WITH TIME 
Is a waste of time
And one's energy 

TO DO THE RIGHT THING 
Is not called for from outside
It is heard within 

AWARE OF BEING AWARE 
Allows one to gain
Another viewpoint 

LET GO OF ALL THOUGHTS 
As you observe them, 
Whether friend or enemy

TRANQUILITY OF THE MIND 
Allows for repose
Asleep or awake

RESPECT FOR OTHERS 
Makes no distinction
For different appearance

TRUE LOVE OF ONE'S SELF 
Like for another
Must be unconditional

DO NOT DEMONIZE 
And become vengeful
Thus undermine fair mindedness

ONE'S MISSION IN LIFE 
Is not known beforehand 
Only afterwards

OPEN MINDEDNESS
Is the key to change
One's inner being for good

DESPITE ITS HARDSHIPS
To celebrate life
By living it heartily

TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM OTHERS
To share worthiness
Not to bolster self esteem 

THE LOVE OF ONE'S SELF 
Is not narcissistic
If combined with humility

OVER ZEALOUSNESS
Even with the best motive
Can create mischief 

FREE FROM EXPECTING
There is no disappointment 
Followed by anger 

POLITICAL UPHEAVALS 
CAUSE UNCERTAINTY
IN MAN, NOT NATURE

MERE GOOD INTENTION 
IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
SOMETHING SHOULD FOLLOW FROM IT

WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS? 
IT WILL COME FOR SURE.
JUST TO WAIT AND SEE

HAVING PERSPECTIVE 
AS ONE GOES ALONG
WILL HELP ONE NOT TO STUMBLE

DISCIPLINE COMES IN ALL FORMS 
PHYSICAL, MENTAL
AND SPIRITUAL 

TURNING TO PRAYER
NO LONGER TRYING TO UNDERSTAND 
HUMAN BEHAVIOR 

IN TIMES OF CHALLENGE 
Following one's heart
Brings confidence and courage

CONCERNS OF THE DAY
Percolate up in one's dreams
Some are wheat some are chaff

ALIGNING ONE'S SELF 
With God's presence in the world
Is a wise man stance

TO BE OF STOUT HEART
Is to burst one's pride
Let the heart's love flow freely 

LIVING SIDE BY SIDE 
Their paths veer away.
Come together when it counts

INVOLVING ONE'S SELF 
In what is at hand
Brings one into the moment

NO HAIKU TODAY
For better or worse I'm pleased
I am not in charge

INHUMANITIES 
Must be confronted and stopped
By humaniy

HARSHNESS WILL REPEL 
It is never right
Generates anger no light

FOR A SMOOTHER RUN 
Harness your desires
Remain unattached to them

SUFFERING FROM GUILT 
Without doing wrong
Is to be self afflicted

REFINING ONE'S CHARACTER 
Is a daily charge
To lighten the way

EXTENDING ONE'S SELF 
Beyond self interest
Is given only to man

EXTENDING MYSELF EACH DAY 
Trying in all ways
To grow in all ways

QUESTIONING MYSELF
On rising each morn
Am I grateful to be up? 

BENT ON SELF DISCOVERY
I strive to straighten out
My misguided ways

RUNNING AFTER HAPPINESS . . . 
Where may it be found?
Only inside you 

TO FIND FERTILE GROUND 
For generating ideas
Look inside one's self

GATHERING KNOWLEDGE 
Not for its sake
That it may lead to wisdom

TO STUDY SCRIPTURE
Is of practical value
While living on earth

WITNESSING ONE'S THOUGHS 
Is an unseen Observer
Even when asleep

FOR A TRUE BELIEVER
"It was meant to be"
Is not rationalizing 

FOR THE COMMON GOOD
See yourself a commoner 
As everyone else

A CHATTERING MIND
Can be held in check
Only by observing it 

HELPING ANOTHER
May be ill advised
If one is in need himself 

THERE IS NO SCORE TO WIN. 
Self effort alone
Is all that is expected  

RECOGNIZING WHO HE WAS
I BID HIM WELCOME.
LIFE CHANGED FOREVER

BEING RELIGIOUS 
IS NOT FOR SOCIALIZING
EXCEPT WITH ONE'S GOD

IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
THERE CAN BE NO WALLS 
BETWEEN PEOPLES OF ALL FAITHS 

TRANSLATING THE LOVE OF GOD 
INTO WORLDLY ACTS
IS MAN'S ROLE ON EARTH

WHEN THE HEART IS STIRRED
By love - a sonnet 
By fear - inner dissonance

THE LOVE FROM A DOG
Without uttering a word 
Transcends human love

WHEN FACING A NEW CHALLENGE 
Formulate a prayer
That all will go well

BELITTLING EGO
One grows in stature
In everyone's eyes

READING WITH ONE'S MIND 
But not for the mind.
A most subtle distinction 

AUTHENTIC TEACHERS
Seek to impart to students
The knowledge they have

CHANGING THE SUBJECT
Bedeviling the mind
May well require outside help

MONITOR THE MIND 
To recognize its chatter
Requires alertness 

STANDING ON ONE'S RIGHTS 
Requires balancing selfhood
And one's righteousness

EXCUSING ONESELF
Not by reference to others 
One is on one's own 

TIME AND TIME AGAIN
One asKs to know the future. 
Only time will tell

WHEN ONE IS SERENE
Nothing is desired 
One is more animated

THE MARVELS OF LANGUAGE
lead as well as follow
To be used for both 

LOSING YOUTHFULNESS
Is not just aging 
It is also a mind set 

ONE'S GOD GIVEN GIFTS
Used unselfishly 
xtends for all their value

ENJOYING ONE'S SELF
AS ONE LIVES EACH DAY 
NOT WAITING FOR RETIREMENT 

 Portal - AlKrassner's email- alkrassner@aol.com