Disclaimer: The poem’s mine, no one else’s. If you steal it, just know that you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Nice feeling, isn’t it?

Author’s Note: This was my entry to the “Laws of Life 2005” essay contest. It won the "Best Essay" award for my class.

It’s a bit (maybe not a bit..but very?) depressing at the beginning, but it gets better at the end . . at least, it should get better. Hope you all enjoy it?

Dedication: My English teacher – thanks for helping/encouraging me, and for teaching me the wonders of Shakespeare’s tragedies.

For Jessica, also, for being my encouraging critic and a wonderful friend. Thanks. :)

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Laws of life.

Three words that sound dictatorial, final.

Things that govern my life, that I have to be careful to obey.

And if they aren’t followed, the wrongdoer will have to pay the price.

Fully pay the price.

These laws are not meant to be broken

they are meant to be soundlessly followed

by people of all races, of all cultures, of all religions and beliefs

These laws help shape a person’s life, and whom they turn out to be

in the end

People are ever changing, forming new ideas, thoughts and beliefs

of their own

becoming corrupted sometimes

being virtual angels the next minute

These laws try to help them, to have them choose their own path

where they want to go and what they want to do in life

to help them become better people

In a world filled with temptation and corruption

The never-ending, struggling battle between good and evil

reigns high, winning supporters and leaders

with messages of purity and duty

and revenge and greed, a thirst for what one cannot have.

Acts of charity and kindness, of goodness

and acts of unspeakable evil, dastardly actions that drives one

to madness, to hell.

Without the laws of life to guide one’s thoughts and actions

the world would be a flaming inferno of pure exploding chaos.

So the laws of life try to educate

to help prevent worldwide hell from happening

People all around the world would know that the world already is a hell

tainted with blood and screams and death.

What drives these people to kill, to be cannibals and terrorists?

They can’t help wonder.

In a world that’s depressing and malice-filled

with genocide, honor killings and hate, and indescribably more

these laws are what every person needs to know

and follow of their own will.

Peace, prosperity, equality and numerous other good values

are what people need

is what the world needs.

And what do people believe in now?

Do they even believe in anything?

They have nothing to believe in,

except their values.

They know about the world, more than they need

and want to know

every gruesome detail

yet at the same time they remain ignorant about it.

Laws give them a sense of control,

of having something to fall back on

a support in the background.

As long as they have and believe in their values

they’ll be fine, they think.

If they don’t have their values, they have nothing.

Values like happiness, truth, honesty, love

compassion and charity

is what keeps them sane and uncorrupted

The laws of life help keep them from losing their sanity

and goodness.

Unspoken, the laws of life

teach us, guide us

on what we know

and what we’re supposed to know

Fifteen years of my life have shaped

The unspoken guidelines I have followed

molding who I am, who I have – and want – to be

Sending me in directions unknown

having no idea what to expect

but maybe that’s a good thing –

having life be unpredictable, spontaneous

and not normal and predictable

is how I want it to be, how I want to live it

since without randomness, how can one live?

There’s no limits in life

so if you restrain yourself, you won’t be living your life

That’s my personal philosophy

what my laws of life have taught me

Being happy, thankful, handling life with ease

as upbeat, brave and carefree as I can

the best person I can be

taking a step forward each time

with no apprehension

being unselfish, honest and helping out

when help is needed

counting my blessings every day

and living each moment

to the fullest

Life has much to offer

although I do not think of it that way

it’s my personal test, to see what I’ve got

if I can handle anything that comes my way

like unexpected hurdles

and if I fall, it’s okay

I can always get back up again and go on.

This is what the laws of life have taught me

and what I live by now

They have served me well

and made me think about life

and what it truly is

Everything I am now

I owe to my laws of life

for without them

I wouldn’t be experiencing life

only existing in it.