When I Asked Marcus Aurelius

When I Asked Marcus Aurelius 

He said:  

Enough of this 

miserable, 

whining life! 

Whatever happens to you

has been waiting to happen

since the beginning of time.

A real person 

doesn’t give way 

to anger and discontent.

Speak with kindness, 

modesty and 

sincerity.

Your purpose: to be 

a good human being.

Do not procrastinate.

See to it: be kind and 

good natured to all.

Soon you’ll be ashes.

A mere name at most.

So end all this discussion

of what a good person 

should be...  and be one.

                    —Sefpoem,  from a Wikipedia piece, edited with deletions and line 

                                        breaks, 2/17/2025