Do not confuse success with always more
for seeming little flaws come when they will
and either surfacewise or at the core
are covered over or are fixed with skill.

The outer patches tight may hold for years
if easy days persuade a happy now
but somewhere someone holds a key to fears
of final truth that hope would not allow.

The inner bandages are tight and sting
and comfort is a fleeting moment's peace
for honor chooses death, the lover's thing,
when knowing who is neighbor loves increase.

The greedy put upon themselves a curse,
ignoring safety for their private purse.

- Robert Stone, 2 October 2011