When imperfection heals

Catching a glimpse of the sunrise, 

Reflected in the window before me,

 I hold my phone over my shoulder 

And shoot through the screen door 

 And window behind me, 

On which there’s a decal of a bird. 

Not a perfect compromise, 

But these days are not about perfection— 

Recuperation’s the name of the game: 

Allowing my heart to express itself 

Will help my body to heal; 

Allowing my art to express itself 

Will help my heart to heal.

Outstanding

Some flowers, like some people, 

Seem to get all the luck — 

Born to stand out in a crowd, 

They seem to have the brightest colors, 

Marvelous textures, intriguing design… 

It seems totally unfair that, in addition, 

They’ve also been endowed 

 With the sweetest scent. 

But still, they need the other plants 

To set them off and give them definition; 

To provide the laciness and contrast 

 That will make the bouquet more appealing. 

And they, too, must eventually 

Lose their petals and fade, so why resent them? 

We each have a role to play In this divine bouquet, 

 But not everyone can be the star: 

Be grateful the director cast you and found 

Your own unique contribution to be essential!

Freedom

It’s easy to imagine, from this distance, 

How freeing it must feel to sail along, 

Powered by the wind and unencumbered 

By the pressures and expectations 

 Of responsibilities on land; 

 To be set free from city streets, 

From traffic and angry customers, 

From briefcase or computer, 

From decisions and their consequences 

And all the other challenges 

That face us as we strive, thrive, or survive. 

Stop, then, and let me ask you: 

What would it take from you today 

To find that sense of freedom in THIS moment? 

Not through escape, but through immersion…

What is it about these colors, 

Their texture and variety 

 That’s so enormously pleasing? 

And when will we ever realize 

That it’s the mix — 

 The contrasts and the differences; 

The ups and downs, ins and outs, 

The varied scents and backgrounds — 

That make this arrangement— 

And all of life, really — 

So incredibly appealing?

Justice will prevail

What’s now a gray day 

 Was a beautiful dawn: 

An opportunity, of course, 

To feel that things have gone down hill. 

But it also reminds us that though things change; 

The others — the staples of the view — 

The water, the sky, the clouds, the sun, 

The wholeness and underlying unity 

Of all creation, 

 The divinity that infuses every particle and atom 

Will remain constant , 

Despite the clouds that occasionally drift by. 

Take hope from this, my friends, take hope, 

And continue to believe, in spite of everything, 

That the arc of the universe, 

 Which seems so long, 

Continues to bend toward justice.

Gratitude

I’m back, and my view this morning 

Is a double joy to behold. 

I’m more grateful than I can express 

For the competence of my surgeon, 

The support of my friends and family, 

The kindness of my nurses, 

The speed of my recovery, 

 And the blessing of all your thoughts and prayers: 

I’m quite certain they’re responsible 

 For the success of my open heart surgery. 

Recovery will be long and tedious, 

But every day is a gift, 

And I’m thrilled to continue sharing 

The beauty of this amazing world we live in.

Trust