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THE  INVITATION

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living 
I want to know what you ache for  
And if you dare to dream of meeting  
Your heart's longing.  

It doesn't interest me how old you are  
I want to know if you  
Will risk looking like a fool  
For love  
For your dream  
For the adventure of being alive.  

It doesn't interest me what planets are  
Squaring your moon
I want to know if you have touched  
The center of your own sorrow.  
If you have been opened by life's betrayals 
Or have become shriveled and closed  
From fear of further pain.  

I want to know if you can sit with pain  
Mine or your own  
Without moving to hide it  
Or fix it  
Or fade it.  

I want to know if you can be with joy  
Mine or your own  
If you can dance with wildness  
And let ecstasy fill you  
To the tips of your fingers and toes  
Without cautioning us to  
Be careful  
Be realistic  
To remember the limitations of being human. 

It doesn't interest me if the story  
You are telling me is true.  
I want to know if you can  
Disappoint another.  
To be true to yourself..  
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal 
And not betray your own soul. 
If you can be faithless  
And therefore trustworthy.  

I want to know if you see beauty 
Even when it is not pretty everyday.  
And if you can source your own life  
From its presence.  

I want to know if you can live with failure 
Yours and mine  
And still stand on the edge of the lake  
And shout to the silver of the full moon 
"Yes!".  

It doesn't interest me  
To know where you live or how much 
Money you have.  
I want to know if you can get up  
After the night of grief and despair  
Weary and bruised to the bone  
And do what needs to be done.  

It doesn't interest me who you know  
Or how you came to be here.  
I want to know if you stand in the center 
of the fire  
With me  
And not shrink back.  

It doesn't interest me where or what  
Or with whom you have studied.    
I want to know if you can be alone  
With yourself  
And if you truly like the company  
You keep  
In the empty moments.  

Oriah Mountain Dreamer  
Toronto, Canada