Nine of Paths – SONG of NUMBERS

Chapter 5.

Nine Of Paths

Every nature on the chart

Needs to seek its counterpart,

Reach a spot across a gap

Somewhere on the “ennea-map”

All must put their best-foot forward

All have goals they must move toward

All too often imperfection

Sends them in the wrong direction

Back and forth the numbers go

Trading places, heel to toe

Two connections each embracing

Two of choices each is facing

One direction holds advancement

Where the nature finds enhancement

Other leaves it turned around

Winding backward, going down

One and only one location

Suits a nature’s transmutation

Where one trait becomes mature

Another ends up insecure

Nine of best and worst potentials

Paring down to bare essentials

At the brink of fate they stand

With proverbial tools in hand

Nine of age-old variations

Jumping-off points, destinations

Mark the foremost paths and roads

Humans travel with their loads

See Dick run, see Jane go

See what makes their behavior so

Bumps and roadblocks apt to get them

Pitfalls likeliest to beset them

Nine of erring human natures

Tempted all by greener pastures

Come to gain or come to loss

Nine are the ways to come across

___________________________

One Of Paths – Moral High Road

One is the one that most of all

Tracks and monitors protocol

An objective Critic, a wise court Jurist

A scolding, condemning, vindictive Purist

Through resentment’s back-stage door

The Finger-Pointer sneaks to Four

Where they indulge, in upper reaches

Exceptions to the rules he preaches

Once he becomes judgmental, rigid

Full of rebuke, repressive, frigid

The Holier-Than-Thou goes slumming for

The “Codebook-Loophole-Puncher” at Four

Guided tour bus, one-way arrow

Back-seat Driver’s straight & narrow

One can’t keep his starched-shirt straight

Airing dirty laundry in the 4th Estate

De Rigueur has a limited scope

Seven is long on rays of hope

One must get his short kvetcher

Straight to the “7th-Inning Stretcher”

One-ness learns to “lighten up”

Puts some humor into the cup

Starts to become a variety shopper

Instead of insistently prim & proper

First self: Self-Control

Wisdom is good-judgment’s goal

Reached by broadening one’s perspective

Not squaring-off with things subjective

Those with strict behavior at One

Need to allow for a sense of fun

Too much rectitude and rightness

Leads to terribly wrong uptightness

After it moves toward Seventh Heaven

The “Gardens of Delight” at Seven

Prejudice goes to tolerance

Up in the house of exuberance

Seven Of Paths – Flight Path

Seven is such that typical assets

Always exhibit multiple facets

A Wit, an Optimist, a prize Virtuoso

A lying, bragging, prank-impulsive Bozo

After he’s had his slap-dash fun

The Tongue-Wagger suddenly leaps to One

Betting the Puritan constitution

Offers an easy, swift solution

Skidding on ice, compulsive, manic

Spinning his wheels in mental panic

The Glutton-For-Punishment jumps the gun

Straight for the “Browbeater-Mallet” at One

Omnibus, hot-rod, fast-track roar

Daredevil’s pit-stop, whirlwind tour

Seven won’t discipline his obsessions

Going no deeper than 1st impressions

Joie De Vivre is a shallow pilot

Five throws light on the ultra-violet

Seven must sit at the steering wheel

Of the “5-Speed Conceptual Depth Mobile”

Seven-ness learns to “aim smaller”

Cools his heels at the inner scholar

Puts his brain to a serious use

Instead of playing it fast & loose

Seventh self: Self-Occupation

Joy is mental liberation

Had by gainful self-employment

Not by stifling your enjoyment

Those with a thousand tales to tell

Need to accomplish one thing well

Too many past times, aimless roaming

Leads to the emptiest underwhelming

After it takes a headlong dive

“Fountains of Knowledge” flow at Five

Gluttony reaps illumination

Deep in the house of concentration

Five Of Paths – Bee Line

Five is the trait that hunts and treasures

Intellectual weights and measures

A Pundit, a Scientist, a banking Adviser

An incoherent, penny-pinching, schizophrenic Miser

Hair-Splitter greedily starts to mimic

The Seven’s search for the latest gimmick

Trying to enumerate, tag and tally

Every distraction in every alley

Mind’s interferences reach hypnotic

Sidetrack worries become chaotic

The Know-It-All stops to stuff and hoard

At Seven’s “Diversion-Smorgasbord”

Head trip, think tank, private driveway

Armchair Traveler’s mental hive-way

Five‘s in over his head on skis

Trying to cover all 7 Seas

Bel Esprit is too abstract

Eight is heavy on matters-of-fact

Five must exit the Ivory Dungeon

And build us the “8-Piston Instinct Engine”

Five-ness learns to go “take charge”

Applies ideas to the world at large

Starts to become more warm and virile

Instead of clinically cold & sterile

Fifth self: Self-Instruction

Truth is transferred by induction

Mastered grabbing the bull by horns

Not going after the unicorns

Those with exceptional brains at Five

Need to decipher instinctive drive

Too much abstract realm delving

Leads to meaningless cryptic-solving

After it learns to dominate

The “Tower of Strength” that stands at Eight

Greed expresses profundity

In the house of practicality

Eight Of Paths – My Way Or The Highway

Eight is the natural quality

Establishing it’s authority

A Champion, a Pragmatist, a bold, fearless Leader

A megalomaniacal, ruthless, Wife-Beater

Give him an inch of his lustful drive

The Arm-Twister takes a mile to Five

Where the curmudgeonly concentration

Leads to emotional isolation

Start with “thought reverse-engineering”

End up cruel and domineering

The Lord-It-All-Over’s all over the map

Reinventing Five’s “Better-Mousetrap”

Flag ship, war path, sharpening stone

Road hog Warrior in the combat zone

Eight is hastening his own funeral

Trying to rule like a 5th-Column General

Two persuades it’s twice as smart

To use Elan Vital with heart

Eight must conquer his Conscience shredder

And master the “2-Handed Charity Spreader”

Eight-ness learns to “give and take”

Gets caught giving everyone a fair shake

Starts to be more humane and humble

Instead of aggressively rough & tumble

Eighth self: Self-Reliance

Courage is the strength of giants

Won by surrendering to second-nature

Not by trying to protect your stature

Those with strong instincts at Eight

Need to command a gentle trait

Too much intestinal fortitude

Leads to the strength-depleting feud

Personal power needs to do

The “Well of Compassion” dug at Two

Lust surrenders generously

In the house of deepest sympathy

Two Of Paths – Lover’s Lane

Two is the kind that goes on serving

After the rest are undeserving

A Nurse, an Altruist, a Charity Starter

A histrionic, micro-managing, chain-yanking Martyr

Back-Patter suddenly turns irate

Taking offense, tears off to Eight

Shelving a virtuous beatitude

To punish a lack of gratitude

Proud disintegrates to possessive

Woman-scorned ends up coercive

The Hand-And-Foot-Waiter will retaliate

And get out the “Cutthroat-Knife” at Eight

Love boat, mercy mission, ball and chain

Rescue Roadie in the parallel lane

Two will never break in her skates

With bend-over-backwards Figure 8s

Eminence Grise is all back seat

Four is better on her own two feet

Two must rescue her mission statement

And give it the “All 4-Burners Treatment”

Two-ness learns to “tell the difference”

Sets some boundaries, keeps her distance

Gets herself to discriminate utterly

Instead of just playing it cute & cuddly

Second self: Self-Deference

Love is compassion’s preference

Served by squaring up accounts

Killed whenever the death count mounts

Those at Two with the heart-felt touch

Rescue themselves from giving too much

Constant hovering, desperate squeezing

Brings on helpless people-pleasing

Love must leave to go explore

Emotional “Boundary Lines” at Four

Pride is the picture of modesty

In the house of creativity

Four Of Paths – Off The Beaten

Four is the trait that references

Individual preferences

A Poet, Existentialist, creative Genius

An overly sensitive, fascist, Elitist

Hurt by a less-than-rave review

The Hangnail-Nurser elopes to Two

Hoping a little pampering might

Coddle her back to a flattering light

Cut to depressive, melancholic

Over-theatrical, melo-dramatic

The Green-With-Envier deserts her skew

To borrow the “Sympathy Squeezer” at Two

Emotional carousel, love forsaken

Midnight Rambler on the road less taken

Four turns a mole-hill into a mountain

Double Dipping at the sympathy fountain

Avant Garde is all technique

One provides objective critique

Four must subject her distinctive stamp

To the “1st Light Honest Appraisal Lamp”

Four-ness learns to “get in step”

Art has Integrity for a rep

Starts to develop a sense of duty

Instead of intrigues that are dark & moody

Fourth self: Self-Design

Grace is gratitude’s single-mind

Gained when strict discipline is rendered

Lost by allowing a double-standard

Those with creative juice at Four

Need to reflect that less-is-more

Only in your case is this true

One good head is better than two

Inspiration is second-to-none

The “Pillar of Virtue” built at One

Causes Envy gratitude

In the house of moral rectitude

Three Of Paths – Career Path

Three is the year book’s popular breed

Voted most likely to succeed

A Suave, an Actor, a goal Demigod

An over-inflated, show-boat Fraud

The self-made Back-biter seems to drop-out

Slumping to Nine’s avoidance hide-out

Where the easy-go junkie’s outlook

Pardons the lack of genuine output

The Happy-Face-Put-On feigns concern

Waits for the crisis light to turn

Exits stage with mirrors and smoke

And puts on the Nine’s “Invisible Cloak”

Main-stream show-boat, jet-set express

Traffic Stopper’s road to success

Three won’t achieve her high position

Resting her laurels on a Cloud-9 Cushion

Par Excellence denies it’s flaws

Six endorses a worthy cause

Three must abandon her own crusade

And join in the “Route 66 Parade”

Three-ness learns to “act in concert”

Higher principles must be sponsored

Pulls her weight where the needs arise

Instead of the wool over everyone’s eyes

Third self: self-respect

Confidence is a treacherous trek

Take with a six-pack of sincere

Avoid the cliffs of cavalier

Those at Three with star complexion

Need to promote more depth perception

Too much stress on image lifting

Brings undignified shape-shifting

Dignity sweated setting bricks

In the “Halls of Justice” standing at Six

Fraud achieves sincerity

In the house of solidarity

Six Of Paths – Divided Highway

Six is the keeper of associations

Most concerned with obligations

A Cop, an Attorney, a true Civil Servant

A credulous, gullible, panicking Rodent

Goose-step Rubbernecks follow suit

Go with the rioters pillaging loot

Thinking their moral superiority

Exempts them from their own authority

Afterward, phobias reach exceeding

Herd mentality starts stampeding

The Sick-With-Worry-er runs for a tree

The “Confidence Mask” observed at Three

Caravan, group rate, grape-vine scare

Bandwagon-Hopper’s main thoroughfare

Six can’t save his anxious tokus

Putting on airs in a 3-Ring Circus

Esprit De Corps is all hype and pump

Nine stays pat when the crowd yells “jump”

Six must pack with his six-pack cooler

The genuine “Whole 9 Yardstick Ruler”

Six-ness learns to “stand his ground”

Not let them push his weight around

Stands as pat as Mount McKinsey

Instead of joining in the feeding frenzy

Sixth self: Self-Legislation

Honor lives by association

Anchored in the all-inclusive

Cast adrift by becoming exclusive

Those with their axioms and their saws

Need to insure instinctive laws

Too much superstitious fear seizing

Leads to fanatic prayer-bead squeezing

After Reverence tows the line

The “Fields of Clover” tended at Nine

Fear finds personal confirmation

High in the house of contemplation

Nine Of Paths – Path Of Least Resistance

Nine is the kind you’ll always join

Looking at both sides of the coin

A Bud, a Liaison, Philanthropist

A lost, apathetic, nebulous Mess

Sloth is mellow till it conflicts

The Foot-Dragger back-slides down to Six

Where group loyalty often voices

Ways to avoid making personal choices

After passiveness hits resistant

The only craving that’s consistent

The Go-Along-To-Keep-The-Peacer’s fix

The good old “Security Blanket” at Six

Slow boat, pleasure cruise, cow-path goad

Sunday Driver in the middle of the road

Nine won’t ever enjoy his ‘someday’

Spacing it out 6-Ways To Sunday

Laissez faire nods off and dozes

Three makes market before it closes

Nine must come out from under his dormer

And crank up the “3-Phase Power Transformer”

Nine-ness learns to “act as if”

Things only “pick up” if you lift

Starts to display some fancy footwork

Instead of just blending into the woodwork

Ninth self: self-possession

Peace is mankind’s last expression

Flows by seeing to it personally

Missed signing on with bureaucracy

Those at Nine with a calm veneer

Need to resist their “idling gear”

Too many cat-naps, daydream-raising

Lead to narcoleptic navel-gazing

Patience moves to industry

Under the “goal post” set at three

Apathy earns it’s missing motives

Off in the house of rich incentives

___________________________

Nine of guardians on the trail

Light the way to holy grail

Tolerance is blind to faults

Modesty brings great results

Honesty is proud to share

Gratitude has enough to spare

Simplicity is free of debt

True Faith is secure from threat

Moderation tends to flourish

Charity will always nourish

Zeal makes all the others sing

Nine of virtues natures bring

Nine of thieves elude police

Rob the self of inner peace

Resentment carries others’ guilts

Vanity decays and wilts

Guile, a prisoner of facade

Envy grieves that it is flawed

Avarice pays a heavy price

Cowardice is defeated twice

Gluttony’s always missing out

Lust sires only drought

Sloth has no one else to care

Nine pathetic sins are there

Virtues give, Vices take

Entitlement’s the first mistake

Goodness reigns until the pose

Of self-importance overthrows

Final self: self-realization

Life is the ultimate destination

Reached through lessons all must learn

Found on the path of no return

Bodies, hearts and intellects

Move from one gift to the next

On their way to true devotion

Use them all. Stay in motion

Song Of Numbers © Copyright Ennea-Dragon, 2020

winding backward, going down.

One and only one location

suits a nature’s transmutation.

Where one trait becomes mature,

another ends up insecure.

Nine of best and worst potentials

paring down to bare essentials,

at the brink of fate they stand

with proverbial tools in hand.

Nine of age-old variations,

jumping-off points, destinations,

mark the foremost paths and roads

humans travel with their loads.

See Dick run, see Jane go,

see what makes their behavior so,

bumps and roadblocks apt to get them,

pitfalls likeliest to beset them.

Nine of erring human natures,

tempted all by greener pastures,

come to gain or come to loss.

Nine are the ways to come across.

___________________________

One Of Paths – Moral High Road

One is the one that most of all

tracks and monitors protocol

an objective Critic, a wise court Jurist

a scolding, condemning, vindictive Purist

Through resentment’s back-stage door

the Finger-Pointer sneaks to Four

where they indulge, in upper reaches

exceptions to the rules he preaches

Once he becomes judgmental, rigid

full of rebuke, repressive, frigid

the Holier-Than-Thou goes slumming for

the “Codebook-Loophole-Puncher” at Four

Guided tour bus, one-way arrow

Back-seat Driver’s straight & narrow

One can’t keep his starched-shirt straight

airing dirty laundry in the 4th Estate

De Rigueur has a limited scope

Seven is long on rays of hope

One must get his short kvetcher

straight to the “7th-Inning Stretcher“

One-ness learns to “lighten up”

puts some humor into the cup

starts to become a variety shopper

instead of insistently prim & proper

First self: Self-Control

Wisdom is good-judgment’s goal

reached by broadening one’s perspective

not squaring-off with things subjective

Those with strict behavior at One

need to allow for a sense of fun

Too much rectitude and rightness

leads to terribly wrong uptightness

After it moves toward Seventh Heaven

the “Gardens of Delight” at Seven

Prejudice goes to tolerance

up in the house of exuberance

Seven Of Paths – Flight Path

Seven is such that typical assets

always exhibit multiple facets,

a Wit, an Optimist, a prize Virtuoso,

a lying, bragging, prank-impulsive Bozo.

After he’s had his slap-dash fun,

the Tongue-Wagger suddenly leaps to One,

betting the Puritan constitution

offers an easy, swift solution.

Skidding on ice, compulsive, manic,

spinning his wheels in mental panic,

the Glutton-For-Punishment jumps the gun

straight for the “Browbeater-Mallet” at One.

Omnibus, hot-rod, fast-track roar,

Daredevil’s pit-stop, whirlwind tour,

Seven won’t discipline his obsessions,

going no deeper than 1st impressions.

Joie De Vivre is a shallow pilot,

Five throws light on the ultra-violet.

Seven must sit at the steering wheel

of the “5-Speed Conceptual Depth Mobile“.

Seven-ness learns to “aim smaller”,

cools his heels at the inner scholar,

puts his brain to a serious use,

instead of playing it fast & loose.

Seventh self: Self-Occupation,

Joy is mental liberation,

had by gainful self-employment,

not by stifling your enjoyment.

Those with a thousand tales to tell,

need to accomplish one thing well.

Too many past times, aimless roaming,

leads to the emptiest underwhelming.

After it takes a headlong dive,

“Fountains of Knowledge” flow at Five.

Gluttony reaps illumination

deep in the house of concentration.

Five Of Paths – Bee Line

Five is the trait that hunts and treasures

intellectual weights and measures,

a Pundit, a Scientist, a banking Adviser,

an incoherent, penny-pinching, schizophrenic Miser.

Hair-Splitter greedily starts to mimic

the Seven’s search for the latest gimmick,

trying to enumerate, tag and tally

every distraction in every alley.

Mind’s interferences reach hypnotic,

sidetrack worries become chaotic.

The Know-It-All stops to stuff and hoard

at Seven’s “Diversion-Smorgasbord“.

Head trip, think tank, private driveway,

Armchair Traveler’s mental hive-way,

Five‘s in over his head on skis,

trying to cover all 7 Seas.

Bel Esprit is too abstract,

Eight is heavy on matters-of-fact.

Five must exit the Ivory Dungeon

and build us the “8-Piston Instinct Engine“.

Five-ness learns to go “take charge”,

applies ideas to the world at large,

starts to become more warm and virile,

instead of clinically cold & sterile.

Fifth self: Self-Instruction,

Truth is transferred by induction,

mastered grabbing the bull by horns,

not going after the unicorns.

Those with exceptional brains at Five

need to decipher instinctive drive.

Too much abstract realm delving

leads to meaningless cryptic-solving.

After it learns to dominate

the “Tower of Strength” that stands at Eight,

Greed expresses profundity

in the house of practicality.

Eight Of Paths – My Way Or The Highway

Eight is the natural quality

establishing it’s authority,

a Champion, a Pragmatist, a bold, fearless Leader,

a megalomaniacal, ruthless, Wife-Beater.

Give him an inch of his lustful drive,

the Arm-Twister takes a mile to Five,

where the curmudgeonly concentration

leads to emotional isolation.

Start with “thought reverse-engineering”,

end up cruel and domineering,

the Lord-It-All-Over’s all over the map

reinventing Five’s “Better-Mousetrap“.

Flag ship, war path, sharpening stone,

Road hog Warrior in the combat zone,

Eight is hastening his own funeral,

trying to rule like a 5th-Column General.

Two persuades it’s twice as smart

to use Elan Vital with heart.

Eight must conquer his Conscience shredder

and master the “2-Handed Charity Spreader“.

Eight-ness learns to “give and take”,

gets caught giving everyone a fair shake,

starts to be more humane and humble

instead of agressively rough & tumble.

Eighth self: Self-Reliance,

Courage is the strength of giants,

won by surrendering to second-nature,

not by trying to protect your stature.

Those with strong instincts at Eight,

need to command a gentle trait.

Too much intestinal fortitude

leads to the strength-depleting feud.

Personal power needs to do

the “Well of Compassion” dug at Two.

Lust surrenders generously

in the house of deepest sympathy.

Two Of Paths – Lover’s Lane

Two is the kind that goes on serving

after the rest are undeserving,

a Nurse, an Altruist, a Charity Starter,

a histrionic, micro-managing, chain-yanking Martyr.

Back-Patter suddenly turns irate,

taking offense, tears off to Eight,

shelving a virtuous beatitude

to punish a lack of gratitude.

Proud disintegrates to possessive,

woman-scorned ends up coercive.

The Hand-And-Foot-Waiter will retaliate

and get out the “Cutthroat-Knife” at Eight.

Love boat, mercy mission, ball and chain,

Rescue Roadie in the parallel lane,

Two will never break in her skates,

with bend-over-backwards Figure 8s.

Eminence Grise is all back seat,

Four is better on her own two feet.

Two must rescue her mission statement

and give it the “All 4-Burners Treatment“.

Two-ness learns to “tell the difference”,

sets some boundaries, keeps her distance,

gets herself to discriminate utterly

instead of just playing it cute & cuddly.

Second self: Self-Deference,

Love is compassion’s preference,

served by squaring up accounts,

killed whenever the death count mounts.

Those at Two with the heart-felt touch,

rescue themselves from giving too much.

Constant hovering, desperate squeezing,

brings on helpless people-pleasing.

Love must leave to go explore

emotional “Boundary Lines” at Four.

Pride is the picture of modesty

in the house of creativity.

Four Of Paths – Off The Beaten

Four is the trait that references

individual preferences,

a Poet, Existentialist, creative Genius,

an overly sensitive, fascist, Elitist.

Hurt by a less-than-rave review,

the Hangnail-Nurser elopes to Two,

hoping a little pampering might

coddle her back to a flattering light.

Cut to depressive, melancholic,

over-theatrical, melo-dramatic,

the Green-With-Envier deserts her skew

to borrow the “Sympathy Squeezer” at Two.

Emotional carousel, love forsaken,

Midnight Rambler on the road less taken,

Four turns a mole-hill into a mountain,

Double Dipping at the sympathy fountain.

Avant Garde is all technique,

One provides objective critique.

Four must subject her distinctive stamp

to the “1st Light Honest Appraisal Lamp“.

Four-ness learns to “get in step”,

art has Honesty for a rep,

starts to develop a sense of duty,

instead of intrigues that are dark & moody.

Fourth self: Self-Design,

Grace is gratitude’s single-mind,

gained when strict discipline is rendered,

lost by allowing a double-standard.

Those with creative juice at Four,

need to reflect that less-is-more.

Only in your case is this true,

one good head is better than two.

Inspiration is second-to-none,

the “Pillar of Virtue” built at One

causes Envy gratitude

in the house of moral rectitude.

Three Of Paths – Career Path

Three is the year book’s popular breed

voted most likely to succeed,

a Suave, an Actor, a goal Demigod,

an over-inflated, show-boat Fraud.

The self-made Back-biter seems to drop-out,

slumping to Nine’s avoidance hide-out,

where the easy-go junkie’s outlook

pardons the lack of genuine output.

The Happy-Face-Put-On feigns concern,

waits for the crisis light to turn,

exits stage with mirrors and smoke

and puts on the Nine’s “Invisible Cloak“.

Main-stream show-boat, jet-set express,

Traffic Stopper’s road to success,

Three won’t achieve her high position

resting her laurels on a Cloud-9 Cushion.

Par Excellence denies it’s flaws,

Six endorses a worthy cause.

Three must abandon her own parade

and join in the “Route 66 Crusade“.

Three-ness learns to “act in concert”,

higher principles must be sponsored;

pulls her weight where the needs arise,

instead of the wool over everyone’s eyes.

Third self: self-respect,

Confidence is a treacherous trek.

Take with a six-pack of sincere,

avoid the cliffs of cavalier.

Those at Three with star complexion,

need to promote more depth perception.

Too much stress on image lifting

brings undignified shape-shifting.

Dignity sweated setting bricks

in the “Halls of Justice” standing at Six.

Fraud achieves sincerety

in the house of solidarity.

Six Of Paths – Divided Highway

Six is the keeper of associations

most concerned with obligations,

a Cop, an Attorney, a true Civil Servant,

a credulous, gullible, panicking Rodent.

Goose-step Rubbernecks follow suit,

go with the rioters pillaging loot,

thinking their moral superiority

exempts them from their own authority.

Afterward, phobias reach exceeding,

herd mentality starts stampeding,

the Sick-With-Worry-er runs for a tree,

the “Confidence Mask” observed at Three.

Caravan, group rate, grape-vine scare,

Bandwagon-Hopper’s main thoroughfare,

Six can’t save his anxious tokus

putting on airs in a 3-Ring Circus.

Esprit De Corps is all hype and pump,

Nine stays pat when the crowd yells “jump!”

Six must pack with his six-pack cooler,

the genuine “Whole 9 Yardstick Ruler“.

Six-ness learns to “stand his ground”,

not let them push his weight around,

stands as pat as Mount McKinsey,

instead of joining in the feeding frenzy.

Sixth self: Self-Legislation,

Honor lives by association,

anchored in the all-inclusive,

cast adrift by becoming exclusive.

Those with their axioms and their saws,

need to insure instinctive laws.

Too much superstitious fear seizing,

leads to fanatic prayer-bead squeezing.

After Reverence tows the line,

the “Fields of Clover” tended at Nine,

Fear finds personal confirmation

high in the house of contemplation.

Nine Of Paths – Path Of Least Resistance

Nine is the kind you’ll always join

looking at both sides of the coin,

a Bud, a Liaison, Philanthropist,

a lost, apathetic, nebulous Mess.

Sloth is mellow till it conflicts,

the Foot-Dragger back-slides down to Six,

where group loyalty often voices

ways to avoid making personal choices.

After passiveness hits resistant,

the only craving that’s consistent,

The Go-Along-To-Keep-The-Peacer’s fix,

the good old “Security Blanket” at Six.

Slow boat, pleasure cruise, cow-path goad,

Sunday Driver in the middle of the road,

Nine won’t ever enjoy his ‘someday’,

spacing it out 6-Ways To Sunday.

Laissez faire nods off and dozes,

Three makes market before it closes,

Nine must come out from under his dormer

and crank up the “3-Phase Power Transformer“

Nine-ness learns to “act as if”,

things only “pick up” if you lift;

starts to display some fancy footwork,

instead of blending into the woodwork.

Ninth self: self-possession,

Peace is mankind’s last expression,

flows by seeing to it personally,

missed signing on with bureaucracy.

Those at Nine with a calm veneer

need to resist their “idling gear”.

Too many cat-naps, daydream-raising,

lead to narcoleptic navel-gazing.

Patience moves to industry

under the “goal post” set at three.

Apathy earns it’s missing motives

off in the house of rich incentives.

___________________________

Nine of guardians on the trail,

light the way to holy grail.

Tolerance is blind to faults,

Modesty brings great results,

Honesty is proud to share,

Gratitude has enough to spare,

Simplicity is free of debt,

True Faith is secure from threat,

Moderation tends to florish,

Charity will always nourish,

Zeal makes all the others sing,

nine of virtues natures bring.

Nine of thieves elude police,

rob the self of inner peace,

Resentment carries others’ guilts,

Vanity decays and wilts,

Guile, a prisoner of facade,

Envy grieves that it is flawed,

Avarice pays a heavy price,

Cowardice is defeated twice,

Gluttony’s always missing out,

Lust sires only drought.

Sloth has no one else to care,

nine pathetic sins are there.

Virtues give, Vices take,

entitlement’s the first mistake.

Goodness reigns until the pose

of self-importance overthrows.

Final self: self-realization,

life is the ultimate destination,

reached through lessons all must learn,

found on the path of no return.

Bodies, hearts and intellects

move from one gift to the next,

on their way to true devotion.

Use them all. Stay in motion.