Not a poem

But a story.

Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and highest-ranking courtiers came by. Most of them simply walked around the rock. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the streets clear, but no one did anything about getting the huge stone out of the way.

Then a group of kids came along on their way home from school. As they began to walk around it, one of them said, "Didn’t we learn about ‘Do not put a stumbling block before the blind’? What if a blind person comes along and can’t get around this rock?"

There aren’t any blind people around here, one of their friends answered.
But the kid persisted, "How about if an old person comes by? They might trip on all the weeds here at the side of the road.

So he persuaded his friends. They put down their books and knapsacks and together they heaved and pushed at the boulder until the path was clear.
When they went to pick up their books, they noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins, and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the rock from the street. The young people split up their fortune with great glee, and continued their walk home.

They learned what many never understand. Every obstacle in life presents us with an opportunity to improve our condition.

Liberty

without you we are nothing
you are the mortar for our house
the tires to our cars

you provide the walking stick
that lets me hike up the mountain
you provide the jello that I eat
the punch lines for my jokes

you are the essence of life.