Disguising beauty.

My throat is dry,

my voice is small.

Water, water, the basic of life.

Where is this source, to quench the drought?

I see two wells.

One is lavished with jewels and riches.

The other is plain.

From where I stand, the waters of both look appetizing,

my intense thirst depleting my ability to judge.

As I walk closer, the beautiful well's water is tainted

the jewels distorted the light to make it look clean

but the plain well needs no distortion

the light seems to shine from the water

a luminescent liquid.

I take a cup of the shining water

and feel as if one sip has quenched me for eternity.

I see another traveler,

he feverishly gulps

trying to attain the beauty of the well from it's water

the empty promise.

He drinks until he is almost drowning in himself

his thirst is too great

and the water inadequate.

I call him over

and recall my journey

we once shared the same thirst.

He wants now to drink from the shining water

but his belly is too full!

A time to purge has come.

Regardless of the thirst, he drains the moisture from himself

to make room for the everlasting cup.

I see the comparison

of life to death

of outer beauty to inner beauty

Be weary of the beautiful well

for it disguises the tainted waters.

Be joyous of the plain well

because it has filled you forever.