Negligence
What happens when we
care for the hearts of others
is two things:
We become better.
And our world falls apart.
Please tell me
there’s something
ugly on the outside
that still has a good
chance at life.
Remind me of the things
that grow despite me,
in spite of me.
When my first child
was an infant, I left her
with another to return to work.
Every day I was amazed
she survived without me.
And now, my daughters
with their wild, tangled
hair and mismatched
clothes go into their world
and have themselves
a promising day.
This morning, I realize
it’s as simple as the birds
hitching a ride on a big
March wind, blowing in
from a place I cannot see.
It’s as simple as the robin
perching his warm copper chest
on the tree outside my window.
God, the tree looks hideous
right now: gray, brittle, dull.
But think of what’s inside of it—
petals, hidden color, deep roots.
It’s about to break open.