when good is good

acting
out of fear
of punishment
is self-preservation
egotistical by nature

good deeds done
to avoid hell
fall into the category
of selfishness

to be morally good
goodness must expect no reward

chance profit
and windfall luck
are a bonus to enjoy
though unexpected fortune
is often found
right on the heels
of goodness

and that's good

whoever envies
the prosperity of a person
who spreads happiness
may as well stop
and learn
from the example
who knows
maybe something good
will sprout for you
because you grant another
something good

but good
can
be bad

when goodness is feigned
in search of
reward
when good
only happens
because someone's watching

the malicious shortcut
then easily taken
by the most respected
when calculations showed
a good probability
of getting away
with malice
because the eyes
are elsewhere
of all who matter
then doing nothing
is better
than doing good
to be seen

the very best however
is when goodness
for goodness's sake
has become habit

it is a moral decision
to be good
regardless of the occasion
that is goodness
for goodness' sake

fear
can be
a fertile spring
for the
immorality
within

which good is better

good deeds
from fear
of punishment

or good
for goodness' sake
or

avoid one
the question
be good
all the same

be good
out of love

just be good

without seeking
god's attention

be good enough
to make up
for the times when
you weren't so

be good
to yourself

choose love
over fear
when you pray

death brings release
for everyone

believer

or not

the same silence
we heard
before
we were
here