Actually, scratch that.

The timeline’s different for each of us
but at some point you have to stop fighting
your parents or religion or 1950s America or
your no-good-son-of-a-bitch-ex-spouse
or quite possibly even yourself. Yes, yourself.
Signify this truce by beating your sword
into a plowshare. Actually, scratch that.
I propose beating it into windchimes.
That way you’ll be gently recalled to the
forgiveness when subsequent winds blow.
Those notes will be a charmer’s tune 
easing the air around you, an alarming
remembrance that by no means did you give up,
but that by choice you gave in to an older song.
 
 
 

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10 Comments

  1. legomai1 on July 15, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    Thank you…

  2. Sue on July 15, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    This struck deep – and I think of the verse from Isaiah, ‘ you shall have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept – and gladness of heart’ — Thank you –

  3. jamesscottsmith on July 15, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    resonance… thanks John.

  4. michelemorin on July 15, 2014 at 1:35 pm

    I will now enjoy my wind chime even more.

  5. mike graves on July 15, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    john.I plan to go see your folks today

  6. Tara Owens on July 15, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    Oh, that older song.

  7. MJ on July 15, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    Yes, but how oh how, I wonder, does one change what has been a practical sword for forty-five working years into windchimes, of all whimsical things . . .

  8. patriciaspreng on July 16, 2014 at 3:59 am

    Read this several times … something new and deeply resonant each time. Oh, for the choosing…

  9. Louise on July 16, 2014 at 4:07 am

    Chimes … tinklilng through the memories of what we have laid down, already slipping into a new song.

  10. pastordt on July 16, 2014 at 4:45 am

    Oh, my. YES. Thank you. I’m listening for that old song tonight.

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