Brush strokes across the sky
Wispy clouds in variegated hues of purple and pink;
Looking as though the master artist
Had taken special care with his brush.
Wearied from the day, my eyes were focused
On the few feet of roadway in front of my car,
My mind preoccupied
With the trivialities of the day.
Something—or was it someone?
Lifted my eyes to scan the horizon,
To feast upon the beauty of the sky-painting.
All the world was not dark, dirty macadam
As had been my experience
The past few moments.
My focus needed to shift to see the immensity,
The beauty of this world, which was there
Whether I noticed or not.
I live most days,
Unaware of anything
Save my family, my job, my problems.
My mental focus is as shallow daily
As my visual one last evening.
I focus on the macadam of life
Rather than on the careful sky-painting you are doing, Lord.
Raise my focus!
May I realize how you are working
Throughout this world
To bring about beauty and wholeness.
May I not miss your joy
By choosing to focus
On the mundane, everyday ordinariness.
Make me a student instead,
Of your breathtaking class in sky-art appreciation.
Beautiful! I needed this today. Thanks!
Thank you, Marge. I hope you see much beauty today!
Beautiful poem and photo
Thank you Lynn, for taking the time to let me know! Have a day filled with noticing!
Thank you! The line that stuck out to me is: “I live most days, Unaware of anything Save my family, my job, my problems.” I’ve been self-absorbed recently as it is a ‘lack of job’ that fills my days.
That’s hard. Things like that easily absorb all our emotional and mental energy. May you take a few moments during the break in the weather (or maybe during it!) to step outside and simply breathe deeply and be captured in the wonder of God.
You are a poet of power and grace; a weaver of words which stir the soul to hope aand lift the heart to song.
Wow, that means so much coming from you, Kathleen! Written many years ago, before I left poetry behind, but it was always Les’s favorite, so I chose to be brave and share it with the world.