all that i am

Lord, we praise You
with our lips
and with our lives
and hearts
Our very existence
is a gift
from You
To You
we offer all
that we have
and are

sitting in the yard under shade
saturday morning
monk bread and a second cup
reading 'my book'

and suddenly a rhythm a cadence is heard
the rise and fall
as if singing in tongues
sometimes a word
a phrase understood
a quick quip shared
but mostly just song
repetitive melodic morning song
joined to the music
and prayer in my head

an auction
I walk up the block and explore
a life
from attic
from basement
from closet
from drawers
laid out in little boxes
on tables

furniture
purchased
inherited
polished
and moved
adorning the sidewalk
along a street
in front of a home
lived in
and died from

and the thoughts of my mind
of these next thirty years
come tumbling forth
in the street

my life
laid out in little boxes
from the attic
the basement
the closets
and drawers
spread out in boxes
on tables

the furniture
purchased
inherited
polished
and moved
adorning the sidewalk
along the street
in front of my home
lived in
and died from........

all my life
all my stuff

all my shells
my little piles of rocks
and little art
things from travels

favorite china and serving pieces


tea cups from nana
and grandma's lace


awards from grandpa

ribbons from swimming
kids' toys


the boys' bikes

once precious
and cared for
now laid bare
now old

scrutinized
for value

oh to reduce these possessions
now
to live in freedom
to hold loosely
unattached
detached
to live
these next thirty years.........