Choice

 

The choice is easy.

 You are living your one life. 

...and while I leave the door of "maybe" wide open to the possibilities of reincarnation, 

for now, on this earth, in this nation,

all I know for sure is we have

One shot at the experimentation

of choosing kindness or "number one" blinders,

empathy or  antipathy

toward my fellow living creatures.

I've been a teacher too long not to offer you reminders

that choosing to only care for yourself

might gain you power and wealth

but at the price of dying alone,

in your palace or expensive care home.

So can you honestly say you'd choose this

before your soul drops below or soars above,

instead of ending your one life surrounded by love?