If I’m spared not pain

                      grant me endurance;

With the passing of time,

                       unbent self-assurance,

That I do life’s bidding

                         with no interference.

If I don’t attain

                           the fulfillment I need,

Keep me out of the grime

                            of temptation and greed,

Alerting and ridding me

                             of their scurrilous breed.

If deprived of the fruit

                              of my efforts to be

What I truly aspire,

                               do let me be free

To try once again

                                most pleasurably.

For I seek only truth

                                 to be standing by me,

That I may not tire

                                  of failures I see,

But enjoy every grain

                                   of my true liberty.

Sweet, instant success

                                    that sometimes appear,

May, in fact, be but far,

                                     yet perceived to be near;

Let my firm will pursue it;

                                      let it not disappear.

Like a good game of chess

                                       that players endear

With feelings that are

                                         so obviously clear,

Let each of my efforts shift

                                          away from the rear.