Waiting on the Recovery of Others

October 23

WAITING FOR THE RECOVERY OF OTHERS

I sit on my hands and wait for these bright pennies to earn the lessons of time.  I dance my little dance and move on, dropping the pretense of patience.  I search other forests, fields, and meetings and encounter many fine plums, though none are the gems incubating at home.  I make acceptance my goal and breathe through my days.  I watch the bulbs ripen and bloom.  I wonder at their beauty, inhale their sweetness.  I have lost track of my personal progress.  I behold, with charmed dismay, the open chasm before me.  I must turn from the flowers and let the new lessons begin.

Don’t show your broken places to everyone, but do show them to someone.

*

Spectrum

The quality of the poetry

is so dependent on the quality of the lighting.

Improve the color palette and yes, you’ve guessed the result.

So, I say to you, “Turn up the lights.

Do not write in half-dark grief and limp through the words.

Spotlight what you can and illuminate the rest.

You needn’t make a sound,

needn’t pitch a tent, needn’t build a bridge,

though you may, may if you wish.

And wish is what I do, wish for better light

and when the clouds break loose in the sky let the sun pour in.

I lift my pen and make it all;

for what was needed was this better light.”