We never know joy until we know pain A rainbow appears after the rain Lightning precedes a clap of thunder Streaking the sky with magical wonder Sand castles crumble and drift away Carrying the dreams of yesterday Victories emerge from a single tear Battles are won when we conquer fear We wonder if life is just an illusion Looking for peace we find confusion Promises are made but seldom kept And once broken many tears are wept This world is but a transient thing We never know what the day will bring Brief is our time to shine in the sun For all too soon the race is run We have our dreams we live in dreams But nothing in life is as it seems Are we what others perceive us to be.