What is conscience but awakening's spark,
A wish to stay the course, to keep on track.
Maybe that's our one real duty,
Our only true desire, the longing behind all longings.
What keeps the lid on this conscience but our false self,
While throughout our life it takes us for a ride.
And yet it's programmed to be its own undoing,
Gradually succumbing to the poison of a merciful grace.
