Life: glass half full version.
April 7, 2015 § 7 Comments
You’re young
and the thing under the bed is real.
But floating on the downstairs-murmur
of grownup voices
you drift into sleep, safe.
You’re not popular but you have
this one friend
who isn’t popular either but
as long as you are not popular together
who cares?
You heard there’s a boy who might like you.
At least he’s thinking about it.
Plus Christmas is coming
and maybe this year
you’ll probably,
definitely
get a dog.
***
Grown up at last,
you’re dropped off at college.
You cram, pull all-nighters,
put on that funny flat black hat,
land your first real job,
earn not much, but the check has
your name on it.
You fall in love, marry, have babies,
blindsided at every turn by
joy,
***
How long has this thing called a career
been going on?
Forty years…it seems like just yesterday.
You’re going to miss these folks.
The inside jokes, the shared misery of
staff meetings.
But you have grandkids now and
a garden that hasn’t been weeded since
the Carter administration.
A bench to sit on.
A sun to sit under.
A star to watch rise over
your neighbor’s
garage.
***
Although nothing works
the way it used to
you thank this good old body
that let you run, laugh, love and eat pizza.
Time for you to take care of it now,
move with care,
not fall so hard you can’t get up,
tell your stories, teach a few lessons,
let gratitude fill every breath
as you practice good-bye.
***
Time to let go.
That bend in the river that
seemed so distant
is just ahead.
All those things obscured by
the dense growth of trees called life
are coming into view.
Dead but not gone
you lean forward.
The wind of all that has been
at your back.
Note: To enjoy the crankier, half empty view of life read the previous post.
you’re right about that pizza!!!
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…it’s the little things.
Actually, that was not meant tongue-in-cheek. The goodness of life seems to reside in the details.
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I love this one- it has all passed by so quickly! Wind at my back headed into the great mystery-OK- What is next?
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I do begin to wonder about that “what’s next” and I’ll admit that a small piece of me is curious enough to look forward to it.
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Tears come so easily to eye and heart for me when hearing songs of home,
Even bad ones….
Not that one is bereft, or lacking,
For there is a prosperity of home,
… in the arms and eyes and hearts of friends,
… at journey’s beginning and end, and with reminders between ….
Even the the smells of baked bread, and good pizza, and clean water.
And the best of journeys are always with companions,
even as these change and grow and pass to other paths:
Each new step is a blessing, as ones past are fond memories,
and ones ahead – all we may imagine – and more.
Thanks for your inspiring presence, Ms Adrian.
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Yes, each new step is a blessing… Thanks for the thoughtful comment Paul.
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Awww.
Smiled all the way thru this. And then, went back for more.
A poem to frame. Or, put in a published book.
I especially like
“tell your stories, teach a few lessons
let gratitude fill every breath ”
which is a mighty fine definition of YOU!
Brava.
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