I might have humored the intellect
Doctor this, Professor that
Full of my insufferable truths
In another life
I might have nursed the animal instinct
Smooth
Silver-tongued
Grabbing at every bit
Of money
Power
Fame
Crushing souls
My own included
Along the way
In yet another life
Maybe
I might have indulged the self
The central deity
In a pantheon of false gods
Worshipping it
Through worshipping them;
Being blind to everything
Beyond the tip of my nose,
Narcissism
By spiritual means.
Or maybe,
I'd have found faith
The kind that has you whispering in desperation
To yourself
Thinking some great power is listening
Coming to save you
To rescue you
From your zero-sum existence.
In this life
Though
I choose love.