On Being Strong (Poetry inspired by study of Phillis Wheatly)

At forty nine, some say past the prime,

I venture on this path I’ve found

There’s light and dark, there’s pain and peace

And silence scaled with sounds

They poke and prod you in your run

Shouting of the grace and love

Then open their palms to show their joy

Delivered from the sky above

Take it, use it,

A springboard for life

An umbrella of safety 

But don’t hide from the light

For though there’s joy in other’s eyes,

if you do and say their ways,

Their’s are not your works, your path

Not the steps you take today.

If you find that life leads you west,

or north, or south, or up, or down

You may see them wag a finger 

pointing only to their ground.

Take this to heart, to lungs, to life

with every breath the joy is grown

With every sight seeds are sown

with every thought your own art is known

Plant each step in a new space

Gaze wide while walking along

Follow the path that starts within

Breathe deep the joy of being strong