Sympathetic Joy

When your mind is bent towards

the troubles of the world & your own 

worries about your life

                                       then

a young neighbor girl skates over 

wearing

pink roller skates & matching knees, elbows,

wrist pads & of course a pink helmet as well.

       She enthusiastically starts telling you

about a new trick she taught herself, with no 

  help from anyone else.

                                & of course she has to 

show it to you. 

                You respond with applause and a big

smile. She goes on chatting & wants to pet your

fluffy blue eyed husky, who never gets

 enough attention.

                              &

 you realize your mind is not so bent

   anymore and

your heart is tickled by

what Emily Dickenson calls -

“Hope” is the thing with feathers-

that perches in your soul-

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all.

  

bd burton- 5/22/2024