Attitude

.

It sits there at the crest of the beach, on the rise just before the

sand dips towards the water’s edge.

A lone beach chair, seemingly abandoned.

It’s a jaunty chair with its yellow striped canvas seat and

sailboats floating on its blue and yellow back support.

It lists just a bit to the left, almost rakishly, as it nestles in

the sand, surveying the sea.

It is a chair made just for sitting, and sitting on the sand at that.

It has no legs to get in the way of stretching out, relaxing,

and letting the sun seep into your bones and warm your soul.

It is so unlike another chair I know. A black chair with wheels.

A chair that does not survey the vastness of the ocean with a jaunty air,

but rather a chair that defines a narrower kingdom.

And yet, I think this other chair is a happier chair than the one that

sits and stares out to sea, for it is a chair with wheels that take the

place of legs no longer able to propel their owner forth.

This other chair is not made for sitting and looking at the world.

It is a chair built for exploring, for meeting life face to face and

tasting of its spirit.

Perhaps this chair should have a seat of yellow and white stripes,

and a back support adorned with sailboats.

A far better statement of its adventurous and joyous possibilities.

Nothing had changed in the hour between the time I wrote the first poem and the time I wrote the second one, nothing except my attitude. And yet that was everything.

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I look forward to readings your thoughts and responses on the blog. You can also send an email directly to me at: info@thefamilycaregiver.org