The Ways Of The Heart Poem by RIC BASTASA

i am told to always
follow the dictates of
my heart
papa and mama and
grandpa
when i was young
they always remind me
follow the
paths of least resistance
that the heart
gives you
because what is
important is that
at the end or
in the middle of
your existence
you have always
been happy
you have always
given priority
to happiness as
you grab it
and as it tries to
elude you

and so you followed
the heart
that gives you pain
in proportion to
the happiness
that it gives you

all is fair now
you must agree

there is really nothing less
and nothing more
the heart is exact
it's measure to happiness
is always accurate

two faces of women
day and night
sorrow and joy
it is the same woman that
you kiss and make
love with

she is life and death
inside that body.