i took a breath
listen
i took another one
i can hear
the soft hush
of oxygen
entering my lungs
bringing life
listen
another hush
is this what life sounds like

i opened my eyes
color
light
darkness
shadows
hues
stars
sunsets
waterfalls
my little girl’s
impossibly tiny
fingers
the gaze
of my beloved eyes
they all fell
through the windows
of my eyes
i opened my eyes
is this what life looks like

i felt something
the slightest variation
of texture
of temperature
an embrace
a fall day
wrapped in
a favorite sweatshirt
the caress of snowflakes
on my face
is this what life
feels like

i heard a sound
a song
a melody
the waves crashing
on the shore
the symphony
of autumn leaves
my little boy
is crying
thunder calling
across the sky
someone said
i love you
is this what life
sounds like

and life can taste
so sweet
as coffee
chases the donut
ice cream’s
creamy comfort
the delight of strawberries
i can smell
each fallen leaf
calling winter near
the scent of summer rain
and the blackened
marshmallow
in the snappy campfire
is this the aroma
and flavor
of life

and what of all the pain
and sorrow too
countless tears
and so alone
and shame chases
me down the years
is this what
life is

transcendence
calls me home
the unseen real
touches my soul
i long for a place
that is real
that is safe
at home with
the author
of my soul
complete
and whole
finally at peace
is this
what eternal
life is

yes
to all the above
and more

i
am
here

no
one
took
me away

so
yes
to
life

yes
to
the
story teller
of
life