POEM OF THE DAY

Instead

For a long, long time

I went through life

Seeing black where there was white

And day where there was night

I saw hate where there was love

And laughter where there was grief

And if I looked very hard

I saw doubt where there was belief

While walking the streets

With my heart in a sling

I heard deaf men dance

And saw blind men sing

Instead of earth and sky

I saw rivers and lakes

And where there were people

I saw hissing snakes

For a long, long time

I looked in the mirror

And I could look all day

But nothing ever got clearer

Instead of perfection

I saw only flaws

And instead of two hands

I could see only claws

There are things in this world

That are not of this world

And at last I can see

How they influence me

There are things this world needs

More than words can express

That exist someplace else

Where they make more of less

I see these things now

Everywhere that I go

Though not actually present

I would make them be so

And I go through life

Seeing white where there’s white

Seeing black where there’s black

Seeing night where there’s night

I see love where there’s love

And see hate where there’s hate

I see doubt where there’s doubt

And see faith where there’s faith

I see earth at my feet

I see rivers and snakes

I see sky overhead

I see people and lakes

I can stand by myself

And look straight in the mirror

And before very long

What I see has grown clearer

There are things in this world

That are not of this world

But at last I can see

What I might make them be

D.E. Sievers