Reality: quicksand, deceptions,
manipulations, illusions at every turn.
The conviction it takes to sustain
energy, persistence, focus,
and not to succumb to the
many complex and seductive traps
at moments of surprised
accomplishment or
discouragement; their
sly accompanying complacencies
or subtle forms of passivity requires
not so much a renewed state of
vigilance (I thought that once) but
more an odd and a potentially estranging
combination of forgiveness, determination,
improvisatory readiness to confront
false assumptions, and most of all,
the ability to laugh at all those solemn
earnest expectations (entitlements),
at nearly every slippery transition.