gratitude – sethlewis.ie

A Given (a poem)

I laid my head down
and took it for granted
that it was a given
that I would keep living
that morning would come
and my heart would keep beating
in counterpoint time to
the rhythm of breathing
and so it was granted—
my consciousness lost,
my body continued
to honour my trust
I rested on forces
I could not control
and now with the light
in my eyes,
I know
that waking up here
on this marvellous planet
is something I cannot
keep taking for granted
it’s granted, but my life
is never a given
and yet—here I am!
because
it is given

Lifetime Lease (a poem)

zero money down on the lease of a lifetime no payments due
you can keep it and use it damage abuse it and love it so
tenderly until the terms of renewal are ended then turn
in the lifetime you’ve broken and mended and all of
the years that you’ve always pretended were
yours and yours only by rights and by
reason but this was a loan—it was
only a season and one day the
lease on the lifetime of you will
come due and you’ll find out
it’s always been true that
you can’t stop the
hourglass sands
as they sift
you can only
accept

the

gift

Thanks in Advance (a poem)

I thank you
right now
for the light you will bring
though I sit in the dark
where I can’t see a thing

I thank you
right now
for the peace you’ll command
though I wait in a storm
that I can’t understand

I thank you
right now
for the gold you’ll refine
through the fire and heat
in my heart, in my mind

I thank you
right now
for the good that you’ll do
for your promise and presence
that carry me through
for this long night of mourning
will end with a dance
so I bring you my thanks
in advance

Hot And Cold (a poem)

Thanksgiving is an American tradition that our family will never, ever give up. The feast is amazing, but so is the logic: a holiday especially made for giving thanks! You have to give the pilgrims credit: they were clever. Giving thanks is one of the healthiest, happiest things you could ever do. Not just with a feast, and not just on the fourth Thursday in November—it’s a habit that can reshape our perspectives and grow contentment in our hearts all year long. That’s what this poem is about: