Rolling the Dice

Sometimes the happiest people 
also suffer the greatest depression.  
It is through the agonizing pain 
that they appreciate the blissful good.  
It is from this that appreciation is gained 
and lifts them higher when
breaking out of the darkness within. 

Peace can seem like boredom 
to these people.  It's only after a couple of 
decades of this 
revolving see-saw ride 
that balance 
and peace sound more thrilling.  

But what about those 
who always experience peace 
and never exuberant joy 
or devastating despondency?  
Do they really live?  

Who breathes in more life?
the bungee jumper 
or the couch potato? 
Who understand the human core better:
the preacher or the sinner? 

Is success measured by numbers 
in the bank or the number 
of children one bears?  

"It's all sixes," he would say.  
"Life hands you the dice 
and you roll 'em, baby!"
But what if some let others 
roll their dice for them?

"And some also steal others' dice 
and roll without permission," I say.

He says, "I guess it's the "why" we roll 
or don't roll that defines us."