In my youth I wanted more
Of all the things that money buys-
Cars and toys and fancy clothes -
Glitter that would catch my eyes.
I heard about a splendid stone,
Which would erase my poverty,
And without much effort would provide
Wealth beyond my fervid dreams.
Inspired by this tempting tale
I sailed away on violent seas.
Though looking far in search of it
The stone and wealth eluded me.
Then, fame I thought, a worthy goal
A man like me might still achieve.
So I rose again to find the path
To where I thought my fame might be.
But alas the hollow cheers proved false
So I settled for the simple praise
Of a few good friends whom I had helped
And a lonely girl who could love me.
I lastly looked for happiness,
Chasing it to distant shores.
But only when I stopped my quest,
Did happiness at last find me.
In a world that’s meaningless,
Add to it some friendly deeds,
Include in it some simple love
And better worlds can then take seed.
It is our choice what life might be
If we but look and understand
That we’ve been given all we need
To make of life what it can be.
We are more than atoms fused,
Our wishes more than vacant dreams;
Through it all we must try hard
To find those things we truly need.
Greater than mere particles
Or even endless quantum waves,
Only we create ourselves
And what it is we wish to save.
- Finding the Light of G‑d, pages 120 - 121