So many opportunities to ruin what seems a right
There’s too much power vested in the walking wicked

I cling to my beliefs, tossing prayers into the wind
But something keeps reminding me the world is mostly wicked

Perhaps my strong upbringing, being taught what’s right and wrong
Has helped me to avoid the depths and failures of the wicked

But there are times I tripped a bit, and caught myself in time
We won’t speak of those accidents when I was caught by wickedness

I am grateful for the concept learned, the forgiving tabula rasa
and whisper, Doreen, it’s okay. You’re far more good than wicked.

Dd. Spungin, author of the collection Tomorrow Smells Invisible, hosts poetry events for PPA. Her poetry can be found in anthologies and in print and on-line journals. Several of her poems have been set to music by NY composer Julie Mandel