Puzzled

I am taking a course to help my writing. Today it focused on poetry, something I dabble in but am not great in. But I was taken back by the samples of poems we studied and how very sad they all were. Then the other people in the class also seemed a bit sad but loved the sadness of the poem. I was confused. The leader of the class wanted us to focus on gratitude and how we wrote about being grateful.

I understand that for some that may be difficult but for me, I just look up and around at all the beauty around us and am very grateful. Yes, there is ugliness all around as well but I think if we look more intently, we can see more beauty than ugly. I also understand that I am now safe and comfortable but I do know what it is to suffer, to be oppressed and to be the victim of abuse. I just chose to look past that and am blessed in being able to be at a point in my life where I can be grateful.

For homework, we had to write a poem about what draws us to write. So while we all have a life to live, I wrote about the beauty life can be. And thought I would share my poem with you.

Ode to Life

I step out the door, take in a breath and listen to the energy of life

The force of it comes wielding our way like a sharp unstoppable knife

I close my eyes, taking in the smells as they deftly assault my nose

Fresh mown grass and lavender compete with the sweet red rose

The tinkling of the wind chime is what I hear first

Then the hawk calls out with her shrill short burst

The bees hum softly while quenching their thirst

And birds at the feeder are fighting to be first

Life is shared on all of creation, a gift with love that is never easy

Some parts are harder than others and some parts can make us queasy

But each part has its own beauty, a beauty we find hard to see

For it is the creator intension that we should all live free

When life gets hard, we want to back away

Confrontation, not something we want to stay

But confrontations now will make us strong

Giving us wisdom to survive the throng

So come let us step outdoors, breathing in this beautiful life

Understanding some days are good and some are fully strife

If we focus more on the good, our faces will begin to smile

And the beauty of life around us will help us conquer this trial.

Anita Neal

In all of life remember the power and beauty of being kind. That in itself is a gift.