(about 1994)
I started with a poster board
big, plain, and empty.
There were no mistakes on it.
There were no bright colors,
no design-- nothing to catch the eye.
He told me to come back someday
with some kind of grand design.
He said if I'd remember this,
I'd be the master of a masterpiece.
So I began to imagine
all the great things I could make . . .
polka dots, flowers, big balloons;
All drawn in symmetry,
with precision and prestige.
I thought I'd round the corners
with perfection
and border it with care.
Color only inside the lines
and make it shine with glitter and gloss.
I thought I'd take a ribbon,
weave it to a bow
and fluff it up with wisdom,
surrounding it with delicate lace
and bouncing curls.
But looking up and reaching out
none of it was in sight.
Yet right beside me stood a friend
a smile and a helping hand.
Most journeys go by quickly they say
so today I'm looking back,
examining my poster board,
and recalling that special friend I met.
She traveled every road with me
and gave me moment by moment
scraps she had found on our way.
We piled them up like yesterdays
and always walked on.
Some scraps came from a rose garden pink,
some from a sunny day.
Some were straight from her heart,
others were far off in a big balloon.
Some came from gardens
of apples, strawberries, and sugar peas.
While some came from warm plaid blankets
that sheltered me from the cold.
It was today that I broke down and cried
because I still hadn't made my design.
Until I stepped back to take a good look
and to my surprise . . .
My poster board had become
colorful and bright
etched with wonderful memories,
smiles, balloons, and sunshiny laughter.
No, the corners weren't perfect or round,
the border in and out with sorrow and joy.
Some of the edges were frayed,
but it all came together
and delighted the eye.
All of those scraps my friend
had given me day by day.
And I see that life's like a puzzle.
it can't come together in one solid bound,
but is carefully designed piece by piece
out of scraps from loved ones in life.
