Seek and you shall surrender, the old sage sang,

but I turned away, mumbling in response, “Oh, yeah.”

The eager ones agreed and kissed his brittle, sun-crusted feet.

 

Keep walking the straight and high, narrow and low road;

Seek and you shall surrender, the old sage sang, and

The rebels tossed stony glares at the old man’s knees.

 

No path is too steep to fall on, no caves too dark to see,

but I had nothing, a mind blanked out, an empty pod,

so I turned away, mumbling in response, “Oh, yeah.”

 

Peace is one step more, two to each side, a dance,

but I only shook my head and snorted, “Sure.”

The eager ones agreed and kissed his brittle, sun-crusted feet.