How to live

Sunrise and cold
Limbs exposed
Wade out
Water at waist
Head under
Plunge.

Strike out
Stroke
Fill lungs
Stroke
Eyes forward
Stroke
Don't stop
Stroke.

Waves splash
Arms burn
Heart pounds
Only sounds
My breath
Rasp.

Legs kick
Stroke
Don't stop
Stroke
Breath in
Stroke
Land ho
Stroke.

Feet on sand
Body spent
Hands on rungs
Emerge wet
Baptized again
Alive.

4.21.16 5:30AM

Bed to work, work to work
bed to work to studio.
I'm cycling, I'm running
but I'm dreaming still
and now, between bed and work
I'm resting
and filling.

The most blessed

A 12 hour day is behind me, 8am-8pm and more than tired I just wonder how I got so lucky? Any number of things could have been different, I could have chosen a more practical sounding major, I could have had my parents against me as many do, I could have never wandered over to the ceramics department to take that first class. But as gently and easily as a skilled shepherd leadeth his flock beside the still waters God made my path straight and easy towards a life more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. I cannot say anything besides that I truly feel I am the most blessed of the most blessed.

A Lament

Does it not become true

that if we are living outside of ourselves

if we are truly loving our neighbor

each of us learns to move about each day

grieving

a mother's death

a brother far from home

an infant diagnosed with cancer

a young boy living restricted by leukemia's dictates

our community walks around

we meet

we talk

even laugh

but I know you are grieving

because I know I am.