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Stronghold

Your roots are your life's fundament,
your origin, your family and your environment,
you can't grow up, develop and expand without this ground,
which must be safe, reliable and stable
for your opportunity to build your life;
but as you age there must be some decline,
disasters, tragedies and losses cannot be avoided,
and the strain can push you over any limit;
everything is put to trial, and the question rises,
whether still your fundament will hold.
It will depend on what you built it on
and how you anchored it.
If you secured it safely on firm ground,
if you stayed faithful to your friends and to your word
and your relationships in honouring your family,
maintained traditions and didn't waste your life,
then your life's fundament will hold forever.
You will have no fear,
no matter what injustice or disaster may befall you,
or whatever be your losses.
If towards the end of your declining life your conscience has no stain,
then you have triumphed and can safely just go on.

Poetry by Christian Lanciai