BEING GOOD IS WHAT HE WILL BE

No one has told him yet
that a red sky at night or in the morning
can change delight into a warning,

or explained the exact
forces that create the ebb and flow
of waves lapping at the shore,

he sits in awe
without worrying about
ozone holes or all the souls
who’ve been lost at sea,

he hasn’t started collecting losses
or crossing wishes off a list he’s just begun,

he trusts the power of the sun,
the power of the sea,
knowing that man doesn’t rule such wonders,

that a sunset sits without lessons or judgment,

disappearing each day
after striating the dimming sky
with breathless hues,
allowing him to choose a wish to close the day,

he believes this is good,

that we are good,

and that being good is what he will be.

Photo of Kathy Garvey Quinn’s grandson taken in Hawaii by Sean Quinn

THIS POEM IS FOR YOU

This poem is for you, for your new year.

I pray you will have good days and good moments,
but I can’t promise they’ll all be good.

We know life doesn’t give that generously.

There will be days when everything goes wrong.

You might feel defeated. You won’t be.

You’ll get up the next day and try again.

You might feel you’re not worthy. You are.

You might feel you have nothing to offer. You do.

You might believe everyone else is doing better. They aren’t.

We’re all imperfect humans just doing the best we can.

So be kind to yourself.

You deserve love and respect, give that in return.

Life is a big circle of giving and receiving, but it isn’t always fair.

Just do the best you can and then do the same the next day.

I promise I’ll be here rooting for you.

Photo by Eliza Ingram of her daughter with Banjo