[image credit: surREAL_by_twistedhero-my favorite kind of art]
Traveler looks out on a world of beauty:
blue skies, rain forests and ocean waves
live within her mind.
She passes a car wreck, and sees
the everyday heroes
assisting the victims, rushing to save their lives,
for life is precious.
She walks Third Avenue, the beat of the forlorn,
the ragged, the broken, the addicted,
the impoverished,
and sees how a smile transforms the faces
of the hopeless,
the simple acknowledgement of shared humanity
rekindling their hopes for another day,
each life so precious.
When the news clamors of discord and unrest,
when the sound bytes of planetary suffering
and injustice assault her eyes and ears,
she turns it off, goes outside and
raises her eyes to the sky, to the clouds,
to the All That Is,
for she knows well, by now,
that the world of our perception
is the world of our reality,
and life is precious.
Beautiful, Sherry. Life is precious... especially with people like her.
ReplyDelete~laurie kolp
for she knows well, by now,
ReplyDeletethat the world of our perception
is the world of our reality...
What an idea to carry with one throughout the day.. I was struck by the idea (while reading your poem) how basic human kindness has become surreal in our daily lives. You remind us to look for the good stuff, Sherry
agree with Kerry.Thats why I call your poetry Wordsworthian- you keep hearing the still sad note of humanity and relate that to your understanding of life and nature.
ReplyDeleteSound bytes of planetary suffering.....I like that.
ReplyDeleteSuch wisdom and example.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Sherry. That is such an important thing to remember, especially as it applies to others. I have a sort of "life axiom": We are all the center of our own universe. And over and over, I reminded my kids of that. Perception is everything, and not everyone's perception is the same. I guess that's why we humans make such lousy witnesses.
ReplyDeleteInteresting in two ways. This poem is wonderful. And I left a comment here last night that is not here. Just as this AM people are commenting upon my work .... it comes in an Email and is not upon my blog. But you have hinted that this is the way of Google blogger!
ReplyDeleteYou always makes me smile Sherry whenever I visit your poetry.You always makes me smile shery whenever I visit your poetry.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing the quote "You can 'think' the world you wish to be in. If you think it is real, then you can make it so. Well heck, I keep thinking of the world as a much nicer place to live in that it is these days.
ReplyDeleteVery nice observations from you Sherry!
Indeed life is precious, something to treasure every minute of every day. Very nice message here, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the Gandhi quote, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
ReplyDeleteYou're such an optimist, my dear.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to forget there are good people in the world and lose hope when one hears of the despair and cruelty in the world. Thanks for this poem.
ReplyDeleteTo see the darkness in the world and still walk with hope is a blessing...loved how your poem depicted it.
ReplyDeleteYour work here brings forth the deep and varying degrees of human emotion and frailties and the best in us, the strength to see the good. You're a blessing, Sherry. ♥
ReplyDeleteYes, life is precious Sherry. All life.
ReplyDeleteApart from the bugs which bite or sting that I'm allergic to, then, it's get them before they get me...lol
I have written alot about perception and reality, the word reality really has no definition for me because with perceptions that I have gathered from experience or fear or inspiration, I really feel that the number of realities is as endless as that chance that a piece of information we never grasped or knew of is going to change our perception and beliefs. Its the sign of a healthy mind I think when your reality changes often...it means you are growing and learning. What a great poem Sherry...loved it.
ReplyDeleteAn uplifting poem. Your valuation of a smile is spot on - it can turn a grumpyguts into a cheerful chap, cheer the sad and bring hope to the hopeless.
ReplyDeleteVisiting your poem again, Sherry. Yes, life IS precious. We must never forget that.
ReplyDeletethat the world of our perception
ReplyDeleteis the world of our reality,
The news tells us one thing, but often, if just turn the radio's and tv's off for a bleepin' minute, we discover something a bit different.
We see hope. Nicely done.
that the world of our perception
ReplyDeleteis the world of our reality,
and life is precious.
love it and it is so true
I walked with this girl and I saw through her eyes as I read this poem.Your words brought the scenes alive in my mind. Yet all be the heartache the sad reality of life alongside we can see the beauty as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the return to hope throughout the poem...a description of hope amidst the most difficult circumstances.
ReplyDeleteLoved this--the reminder to cultivate the eye to see goodness and beauty in every situation--because there is goodness and beauty in every situation.
ReplyDeleteI love this poem. Your opening lines tell so much about your traveler. She is able to carry a world of beauty within her mind. If only everyone did tht. What a different world we would have. Well done.
ReplyDeleteSherry, this speaks to me so much. I too try to create my world, devoid of violence and ugly news. Impossible to do totally, but I try to stay focused on beauty and kindness. I know you do too.
ReplyDeleteamen
ReplyDeletesee and create
beautiful... you always pick gems from the ordinary.....great!
ReplyDeleteSherry, this speaks to gratitude, to mindfulness. I try to live up to this standard and fail on a daily basis, but it starts with the wanting to take action. Prayer and meditation help, but getting out there and engaging, ah, that's the ticket for me! Peace, honey, and stay warm. Love, Amy
ReplyDeletehttp://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/11/14/balloon-girl/
I'm commenting again b/c I just love this. I think everyone could learn a thing or two from her (esp. turning off the news).
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts are what we are...ought oh..I'm a colorful mess...
ReplyDeleteI loved this trip you took us on!
Insightful and it speaks to what we need to see and focus on! You do this always seeing the cup full...
beautiful poem and message! Loved it! @>-----------
A blessing indeed to have such a perception of the world. Makes for a much happier life. Thanks for linking this.
ReplyDeleteso apt for what's going on in the world today... unfortunately. sometimes all i can do is focus on my own little corner of the world and the fact that life IS precious and be grateful for another day.
ReplyDelete♥