If I ever lose everything

Let the world strip me down

to a man with empty pockets

and a long road.

Because I have seen men

own cities

and still walk like beggars.

And I have seen men

with nothing but worn boots

stand like kings.

If I ever lose everything

let it not be my word.

Let it not be the friends

who stayed

when the room went quiet.

Let it not be the courage

to stand again

in the ruins of yesterday.

For a man is not measured

by what he gathers,

but by what remains

when it is all taken away.

And if one day

I must start again

with nothing but breath-

then let me start

as the kind of man

who was never owned

by what he had.