A Ledger, a Father, a Child

Responding to Friday Writings #243: By the Numbers









We waited for one baby step,
one tooth, one word, and one birthday.
One became two, and two became four,
and soon came the first day of school.

We counted grades, scores, and years,
and counted our failure in each crush.
Then came paychecks, houses, and more,
and we kept counting what came next.

Now it is time to count eighty candles,
having mastered the art of counting.
We counted everything around us,
except the moments we were living.

Now I look back at the ledger,
wondering what I could not count—
the days we missed laughing together,
the hours we could have loved more.

Eden Gardens

Written in response to the prompt Friday Writings #236: Of Gardening and Living and Such…

Eden Gardens

Gardening, they say, began in Eden.
Is that what made me part of you? she asked.
Not the garden—temptation shaped our world.
A single fruit altered perfection.
Rational yields to temptation too soon.
Act for yourself. Apples bear no thorns.

“Gardening is not a rational act.”

— Margaret Atwood

Dreams and Mirrors

Written to the prompt Friday Writings #233: “set another goal … dream a new dream”

C.S. Lewis reminds us that we are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream. Yet age offers a companion that youth seldom values: discernment. A dream is not judged by its size alone, but by its fit. Wisdom lies not merely in dreaming, but in knowing which dreams deserve a place in our waking hours. A dreamer dreaming a dream must dream a dream that can become reality.

Dream, for dreams are worth the dream,

Yet dream the dream that fits the dream,

Not every dream is yours to dream.

Aim, but after knowing the archer well,

Target, only what is worth the target,

Not every arrow will find its mark.

Love, but weigh the love you love,

Want, but test the want you want,

Desire alone should not guide.

Spend, if spending serves the plan,

Invest, but learn before you invest,

Gold has buried many a dream.

Dream, for dreams renew the soul,

Yet dream with prudence at your side,

Dream those dreams that are part of soul.