Today’s poem by Clint Smith reminds me that joy, sorrow, wonder, and despair can all occur at the same time. There’s light and shadow, laughter and tears, the bitter and the sweet, and we carry it all simultaneously. If I focus my energy only on trying to “fix” my problems, I’ll miss some joys, like the woodpecker drumming on the tree yesterday or the unexpected invitation to play with my adorable two-year-old neighbor this afternoon. 🙂
All at Once
The redwoods are on fire in California. A flood submerges a neighborhood
that sat quiet on the coast for three centuries. A child takes their first steps
and tumbles into a father’s arms. Two people in New Orleans fall in love
under an oak tree whose branches bend like sorrow. A forest of seeds are
planted in new soil. A glacier melts into the ocean and the sea climbs closer
to the land. A man comes home from war and holds his son for the first
time. A man is killed by a drone that thinks his jug of water is a bomb. Your
best friend relapses and isn’t picking up the phone. Your son’s teacher calls
to say he stood up for another boy in class. A country below the equator
ends a 20-year civil war. A soldier across the Atlantic fires the shot that
begins another. The scientists find a vaccine that will save millions of people’s
lives. Your mother’s cancer has returned, and doctors say there is nothing
else they can do. There is a funeral procession in the morning and a
wedding in the afternoon. The river that gives us water to drink is the same
one that might wash us away.
Clint Smith
Here’s a short video of Clint Smith on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The segment ends with Clint Smith reading “All at Once.”
Prompt:
What are some small delights or wonders you might celebrate today? I look forward to reading them in the comments.
Sources:
“All at Once” by Clint Smith from Above Ground 2023. Copyrighted material used for educational or therapeutic purposes.
Photo by Patti Russo. Dancing to Freedom, Berlin Wall, Germany. 2024
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