Philosophical

Loss of life is far better 
than in path away to scatter, 
than loss of hope, loss of zeal, 
and loss of ability to feel, 
than the great loss 
of an idol, away with a pain so gross, 
than the search and knocking failures, 
than the cold sighs and desperate tears, 
than the tired but restless eyes, 
and the wasted, all the tries; 
than the dry and harsh words, 
and the flight of sight of wingless birds, 
than the steps destined never to return, 
and the garden of thorn and fern, 
than the heart with tears and holes, 
and the life of friendless orphaned souls.....