Focused as a Flower

I wish I knew how to grow

with the single-minded purpose of flowers.

Up, up and ever increasing in beauty,

focused on the source of light and

undistracted by the tangle and clutter

of weeds and other plants nearby.

Neither thorns nor thistles

causing them to pause in self-doubt,

or think their mission would be better

if they were holding up

the heavy golden head of some other stem–

richness enough to be oneself.

Golden Glory

It’s easy to get caught up

in the tangled branches of self-doubt

but look up–

there is such golden glory!

Not one of your mistakes

can darken the brilliance of the sun.

Autumn bursts with gratitude

for the gift of life–

the spark given in the darkness

that could have been ever dark

now beams with the warmth of fire!