We are thieves, sitting on a stolen heap

Of experiences, from those riches, we hope to reap

Happiness and freedom, but time won’t cooperate

It keeps us busy adding to the mind’s weight

Why can’t we steal our faults?

And learn from them that we are false

Anyone can hide them, but few seek

Faults are sturdy steps, taking us to the peak

Coming face to face with our faults, the ego melts

Seeing the futility of making us someone else

Much of what's stolen from the outside

Cannot be retrieved without a reliable inner guide

Faults cannot be stolen or given away

When we hide them, time will make us pay

Exposing them will heal the inner wound

We can escape before the body is interred in a tomb