The Tempering of the Soul

I have lived a thousand lives, died a thousand deaths. I have loved women unbounded and fathered an army of children. I have killed and healed, stolen and blessed, fought and fled. Jew, Christian, Muslim I have been-- Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, too. I worshiped the sun and Thor, pagan gods galore.... I was atheist, agnostic, Marxist, and often, just indifferent. I was cruel, I was kind, I was hateful, I was forgiving. I laid waste to cities and wrote operas and symphonies and little songs to dance around forever in your head.... I was poet and philanderer, philosopher and philanthropist, theologian and scientist-- also guard and prisoner, and many, many times, false lover or the one betrayed.... All my lives were dreams, each slipping away to be forgotten early in dawn of the next life, none to be recalled until I awaken in the time beyond time....