the way

Siddhartha, once beyond the palace grounds
encountered Death, and Suff'ring and Disease
convinced a higher answer could be found
he sat to meditate beneath the trees
attachments bind us to the wheel of strife
transcending them deprives death of its sting
but motivation to engage in life
evaporates when one disdains all things
discarding happiness along with wrath
he counseled us to tread the middle way
if only we'd cleave to the eight-fold path
we'd never be morose ('though less than gay)
it's by embracing equanimity
that humans can grow to be truly free