Hi just wanted to share something beautiful with you, as 
they say a rose for a rose. 


The park bench was deserted as I sat
down to read, beneath the long, 
straggely branches of an old willow tree. 
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, 
for the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, 
a young boy approached me, 
all tired from play.


He stood right before me
with his head tilted down
and said with great excitement,
" Look what I found"
In his hand was a flower,
and what a pitiful sight,
with it's petals all worn-not enough rain, 
or too little light.


Wanting him to take his dead flower
and go off to play,
I faked a smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating
he sat next to my side
and declared with overacted surprise,
" It sure smells pretty
and it's beautiful, too,
that's why I picked it; here,
it's for you."


The weed before me was dying or dead, 
no vibrant colors; orange, yellow, or red. 
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. 
So I reached for the flower, and replied,
"Thanks, just what I need."
but instead of him placing the flower in my hand, 
he held it mid-air without reason or plan. 
It was then that I noticed for the very first time 
that weed-toting boy could not see ~ he was blind.


I heard my voice quiver,
tears shone in the sun
as I thanked him for picking
the very best one.
" Youre welcome." he smiled,
and then ran off to play,
unaware of the impact
he'd had on my day.


I sat there and wondered how he
managed to see.
A self pitying man beneath an old
willow tree.
How did he know
of my self-indulged plight?
perhaps from his heart,
he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child,
at last I could see,
The problem was not the world;
the problem was me.
And for all those times
I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, 
and appreciate every second that's mine. 
And then I held that wilted flower to my nose.
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.
And smiled as I watched that young boy
with another weed in his hand
about to change the life
of an unsuspecting old man. 

E-mail me at AnnUnicorn@tdn.com
Please come back soon and visit me.