The Mirrored Now

Might suffering be that place where love does its best work?
To rise early morning,
Take a walk to greet the sunrise
And view the new light in the sky.

That’s love.

To feel the peaceful breeze on a summer evening,
The gentle nuzzling of your dog’s nose,
Letting you know
He’s there for you.

That too
Is love.

It’s the laughter of friends
On nights when you can’t sleep
And they dedicate their own sleep
To keep you company.

Might what one sees reflecting be a guardian angel?
A personage you’ve never conceived of before,
One reflecting your hard past in a twisted city
Seeking resolve for mistakes made,
Stumbling through roads less traveled
Finding authentic living is often ignored,
Yet revealing the embodied love,
Realizing you are love,
Experiencing all that makes it real.

This enigmatic epiphany
Takes your hand,
Squeezes it,
Releasing a selfless love
That frees itself.

The mirror reveals
The crinkles around your eyes,
Across your forehead,
The pursed lips,
All softening
As eyes become brighter,
Bluer.

Regretfulness begins to fade from the reflection,
Replaced by a little boy
Having for the first time
Felt the crack of the ball on the bat,
The steadiness of two wheels on the sidewalk,
The tug of the fish on the end of his line,
The victory of crossing through a rushing undercurrent safely.

This reflection,
This person,
This father or mother of your history,
Smiles with compassion,
Support,
And the healing redemption
Honesty affords.

Such is the naked reflection
Of incorrectness,
Of much pain inflicted,
Of much hurt administered,
Of sincere desire for a second chance.

Forgiveness
And love

A glance at the sky
Reminds one
The universe provides
All that is needed
For those deserving forgiveness.