I've-Encountered-Beauty Poem by Mark Heathcote

I've-encountered-beauty
I've-encountered-fear and I've encountered death
I've encountered hate and, I've encountered love
And I know which one I choose.

Oh, I've met with deprivation
And I've met with an overflowing river of charity
Oh, I've met with the devil
And better still, I've been sent an angel for free.

Oh, I've faced adversity.
And been given clemency advocating some heavenly mercy
Oh, I've faced eternal damnation
And found liberation in my heart and soul

I've encountered hunger and vagrancy
And found morsels of nourishing hope
The marrow of some old truth
That feeds my mind tells me to be kind.

Oh, I've come across snakes in the grass
That has bitten me
But I don't advocate any vengeance
Because I've-encountered-beauty, immeasurable all around me.