Yesterday
I did something I disapprove of.
I will do another thing I disapprove of today,
and tomorrow too,
weather permitting.
This is opposite of what I was taught.
I was taught to do right repeatedly
until I could not help myself,
until the habit of rectitude became ingrained,
like the ethics of angels.
Having a devilishly independent mind
I devised another stratagem
to strengthen my moral resolve,
the discipline of giving in
to small temptations routinely
so that when big temptation comes
clever with ruin,
I will have sated my desire to be dissolute,
and take pleasure in being morally strong.
2013