The beach was deserted as I sat down to
read
'neath the long straggly limbs of an old willow
tree.
Disillusioned by life...with reason to
frown,
The world was intent on dragging me down.
It that weren't enough to ruin my day,
a young girl approached, all rumpled from
play.
She stood right before me, her head tilted
down.
And said with excitement, "Look what I
found!"
In her hand was a flower .... what a pitiful
sight:
Petals all worn - lack of rain and of light.
Hoping she'd take her find and go play,
I faked a weak smile, then shifted away.
Instead of retreating she sat nearer my side,
placed the flower to her nose
and declared wih surprise,
"It sure smells pretty...and it's beautiful
too.
That's why I picked it. Here it's for you!"
The object before me was dying or dead.
It's color was faded, now pink, but once
red.
Yet I knew I must take it or she might never
leave.
So I reached for the flower.... and she
said,
"Just what I need."
But rather than placing her prize in my
hand,
she held it midair without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first
time,
this exuberant child could not see...she was
blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone in the
sun
as I thanked her for picking the very best
one.
"You're welcome," she smiled, then ran off to
play,
unaware of the impact she'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how she managed to
see
a self-pitying woman 'neath an old willow
tree.
How did she know of my self-indulged
plight?
Perhaps from her heart, she'd been blessed with
true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, now I could
see
the problem was not with the world, but with
me.
And for all the times I, myself, had been
blind,
I vowed to appreciate each moment that's
mine.
Then I held that dead flower near to my
nose
sensing the fragrance of one beautiful
rose.
I smiled as I watched the young girl, weed in
hand,
about to enlighten a grumpy old man.
E-mail Eve