Effort give way to existence

to be
that is all that is asked;
seems like a simple instruction
for such a tall order

to be in the face of
desire
destruction
confusion
passion
vulnerability
these things take a different kind of talent

this requires a rawness
most do not want to feel;
it requires a dedication to authenticity
our social constructs have constructed barriers against;
we find we have to take sledgehammers to walls
that have been built unconsciously
admittedly built as a survival instinct
in a world that makes love
conditional


we add to these conditions with our checklists
of what we want to achieve
and bucketlists
of what we want to experience
and criteria
for who we want to love,
thinking that these things will somehow
give us a better life


we don't see how this restricts
real living
life becomes effort to achieve
some item on all those lists
and we actually forget
to actually be
in the moment
with this breath
with this beautiful person
that stands before us
or even as us
ever changing

There is a lifetime of mystery, wonder,
adventure and creation here
but this place too often gets passed by
for that place
that experience
that idea
that love

when will you dive more deeply into
this place
this moment
this idea
this love?
and trade all of that effort
for more of this existence;
an acceptance of what is now
that is not apathetic
but rather insightful
inspiring
and comes directly from the here
from the now
and beyond

*original poem by Summer Starr, July 2015