In Loving Shape
You cannot run a marathon
Unless you’ve done the training
No one’s won an election
Without lots of campaigning
You cannot be well versed on topics
Without much research
Your soul or spirit cannot grow
If confined to one church
In all aspects of life we can’t
Do things we hope to do
Unless we do the work to get
In shape to see it through
Which brings us to the people who
Wish they could show more love
Despite their wants they do not have
Much training to show of
And how does one prepare themselves
To love all selflessly?
By loving themselves just as much
To very same degree
Much of loving lies in caring
Protecting, defending
How can one love others when
To themselves they aren’t tending?
How can someone who abuses
Their bodies with drugs
Or alcohol or cigarettes
Hope to give loving hugs?
How can someone who slowly
Poisons their veins with junk
Clogs their arteries and makes
Their heart strain, lurch and clunk
Hope to care for someone else
And rise to do what’s needed
To take care when their own advice
Goes constantly unheeded?
How can someone not in shape
From loving their own body
Caring for it, protecting
So that it isn’t shoddy
Hope to be in any kind
Of shape to love another?
If you can’t help yourself, how much
Can you do for your brother?
Your sister? Mother? Father? Friend?
Your children and your pets?
The most love you can give is the
Same as your body gets
So show some love and make the choice
That’s not rooted in craving
Physically and mentally
We should ourselves be saving
Not torturing ourselves over
Regrets from the past
And not consuming things that have
Bad effects that will last
Get in loving shape by caring
For your own well-being
Then you’ll start to see your love
For others fully freeing
~Miro