The Sorrow of Having

 
Better by far than offering
everything I had
only to receive
a handful of alms—
was getting nothing at all!


After wanting the whole world,
receiving a grain of grace
makes me think it would have been wiser
to want nothing at all!


Better than this would have been
complete destitution and
a beggar's two empty hands.


Much better, really,
were those sleepless nights
passing in hope's bright dreams…