#78 Poems: Mine & Shopping 3/09

Mine

It is early March.
The dwarf iris in their deep purple
and touch of gold
surprise with delight
call out to me.

Tiny, striking, ablaze with color
they grace the new beds at the parish house
around the corner,
unexpected riches
in the midst of winter’s brown.
I am captivated
want them for my own.

And I realize
with eyes to see
and strength to walk around the corner
they are already mine.




Shopping

I like to shop at times
finding treasures at a thrift store
mingling with neighbors at a farmers’ market
fingering crafts from worlds away

But mostly I don’t.
In my mouth it easily has the taste of failure--
Failure of imagination
that I cannot come up with something
to meet the need myself,
Failure of skill
that I could not keep the old one working,
Failure of strength
that I cannot be content with what I have,
Failure of integrity
knowing I already take more than my share.

When the world is turned upside down
all the advertising and excess shaken out
when we deal in real needs and real wealth
value all who do the work on this green earth
maybe then this bitter taste
will wash from my mouth
and I will be happy
to shop.