Simply - A Poem

Recently, at a workshop, we were asked to present writings that had affected our spiritual journey. Below is the piece that my husband, David, presented. His remembering this poem, which I wrote in 1989, gave me a chance to revisit it.  I have taken time with this poem and had to see that in its simplicity, it held so much wisdom.  This has caused me to revisit my journey now, and reflect on how far I have come to only see, that I had the idea way back then.

I believe our  journey is meant to be simple.  Now that I have been reminded of that, I am working diligently to stop myself from complicating, what can be so simple.

So, I simply offer this to You. May it affect Your view in a simple way.


AND GOD SMILED

And God smiled down on us and said “Let all be well, let everyone be happy!”
But everyone did not listen. Everyone did not hear.

And so, some walked about unhappy waiting for more.
And some, walked about collecting,
    Busy collecting all the things they needed to be happy.

And some, did nothing. Some just stood still.
    Afraid.
    Afraid to look up.
    Afraid to look ahead.

And so, they just looked down, down at their feet, that did not move.
    And were still.
        And felt nothing.

And God looked down and wondered why.
He could do no more.
    For each someone had to try,
        had to try on their own.

And God looked down and wondered why.

So, some waited, and waited,
    and waited still,
        and felt abandoned and alone.

And some, with their piles of things,
    ran out of places to put them.

But still collected new things.
    And hired guards to protect their things.
        And hired others to watch the guards.
            And hired others to watch the others.
And so, their things brought them worry and more worry.

Yet, still they went on collecting.
    Collecting and worrying,
    Worrying and collecting.

And others were still afraid.
    Afraid to move, to look around,
And God still wondered why.

Then one, one looked up.
He stood alone,
    with nothing collected,
    and looked up, up into the sky.

There above him was a bird.
It floated and flew.
        And, he was amazed.
            And so, he began to study this bird.

His curiosity about this bird overcame his being afraid.

He welcomed this bird.
    He held out his arm,
        Asked it to land,
            And it did!

And God smiled, and wondered why it had taken so long!


                        Donna Long Somerville @1989