Measure of a man

"A true king listens to the advice of his counsels but always listens to his heart." "If you think you're perfect already, then you never will be."

I gauge the measure of a man

by his heart not just his skill;

by his conviction not his expertise,

& by how he exercises his free will

men who thought themselves great

but who for external signs did wait;

who waged war with their own heart

whose soul, from salvation, is eons apart

who could they be, where they really are

If you're the man who truly deserves 

If you're the man who's heart is true

I swear I will lay my life for you.

Author's Note

What is your philosophy on the conflict between conventions/traditions and the heart?

Reviews

[Dinesh Sairam]

This was very different from your other poems, in the sense that the compassion in it feels almost true (And I hope it is).

Keep writing.

[Dayran]

Deserving may not have a great deal to do with the fact that knowledge is the the output from a learning process undertaken to understand the relation between the ancient symbols of passion in us with the reality of the physical world today. It is one man's work and life. It is of course important to pay heed to the warnings you create, do you?