Wise in Body

By Winston Mayo

Hybrid © Antonio Mora

Humble the head
…..or it will grow wise in its pride
Occupy the mind
…..or it will be captivated by nonsense
Teach the neck
…..or it will yield to untested philosophies
Fortify the chest
…..or it will lumber in cowardice
Guide the arm
…..or it will lend itself to unfit causes
Steady the hand
…..or it will shake with dishonest company
Tame the tongue
…..or it will strike the soul
Curve the ear
…..or it will heed itself to lies
Shield the eye
…..or it will be blinded in envy
Strengthen the knee
…..or it will bow to fraudulent leaders
Balance the foot
…..or it stumble between fine lines
And most of all, soften the heart,
…..for it will close, growing hard and cold;
………..unable to provide for the body
………..what it longs for—love.
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Winston Mayo is a freelance writer and poet with featured work in the 2015 Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook and poem “The Golden Sun Rises and Melts the Snow” in the 2011 America Library of Poetry collection. Winston received his BA in Writing with a Minor in Art from Ithaca College and is currently working on his first fiction novel.