A Poem ...

I received this poem by Peter Everwine from a reader and friend, this past week. Maybe she sent it to me as it reminded her of the Happiness Sprinkling Project. I am not sure.

For me, it speaks of doing what brings us joy, what makes our heart expand and breathe all the way. It speaks of not always knowing the "why" other than because "we have to."  It speaks of sticking it out, day after day, because our heart asks us to.

It reminds me too, of our deep power to affect one another.

I hope it brings you joy,  and maybe even a dash of something else.

The girl on the Bullard overpass
looks happy to be there, getting soaked
in a light rain but waving her hands
to the four o'clock freeway traffic
in which I'm anything but happy.

You might think she's too dumb
to come in out of the rain, but rain
or shine, it doesn't seem to matter.
She's there most every afternoon,
as if she does this for a living.

Some living, I'd say. Doesn't she ever
get bored, or wish someone would stop
and say, "Where to?" and her life would change?
That's how I'd be, hating the noise,
the stink of exhaust, the press of people.

I can't imagine what her life is;
mine is confused and often fretful.
But there's something brave about standing alone
in the rain, waving wild semaphores
of gladness to impatient passersby

too tired or preoccupied to care.
Seeing her at her familiar station
I suddenly grin like a fool, wave back,
and forgive the driver to my right,
who is sullen and staring as I pass.

I find her in my rear-view mirror,
then head for a needed drink and supper.
I don't know where she goes, but I hope
it's to a place she loves. I hope the rain
lets up. I hope she's there tomorrow.

 Peter Everwine, -  from his book Listening Long and Late