gutters rusting through
cooling fan runs without stopping
door paint peeling in the sun and rain
calories going to weight, not energy
knees buckling with pain
eyes dimming
entropy calling us to our true state
but we keep up that will to build
it is what makes the universe
despite the destruction
of the individual
a gentle answer
turns away wrath
Proverbs tells us
but that gentle answer
took courage to face the truth
of human vulnerability
to accept another in his anger
and have compassion
on mankind
not to further pain
i am so much less
than my childhood dreams
or youthful assumptions
yet i have known
love and loyalty
pain and recovery
so let it be
a gentleness of rain
would ease the browning
of grasses
but be merely
scalded to vapor
by the orange-yellows
of wildfire
hope once grinned
and counted on
now grimaced
as faith, trust
belief in others
is riddled by fear
anger, blame-calling
but there is a depth
of joy in seeking
the good in those
around us
and finding that warmth
in so many
if not in all
treat all persons
with dignity
simply because
they are the Lord’s
and leave judgement
to more insightful
discernment than
our limited understanding
how relieving test results can be!
the brother on whom we all depend
had tested positive for COVID
quarantined, felt miserable
but stayed at home, away from all
and now, ten days later
tests again—this time negative!
thank you, Lord
i watch depression grow
as reality takes some lives
and alters function in others
loved and ‘undeserving’
of such pain
and again, personal fear
and anger blind so many
to recognizing others
as fosters of our best
selves needed to combat
if never conquer
entropy and loss
we’ve allowed
the despairing wolf
within us all
to howl
retesting to reassure
gathering to joy
seeing love well
in each of us
knowing how we’ve missed the hugs
the delicious smoked pork lunch
the teasing of the waiter-son
of a beloved friend
the talk and laughter
laughter and talk
hours spent remembering
catching up
laughing
family is my world
two full nights’ sleep
and this morning
i slept in until seven
ah, thank you, those
who developed
antibiotics for when
i was no longer fighting
successfully
MJ blathers