Making Things

I just came across this poem I wrote for the staff of St. John's when I retired. They were so much more talented and wise than me (though not as funny!) I did not deserve them. Mostly I tried to stay out of their way! Like the general riding through town shouting, "Get out of the way! That is my army up there ahead! I am their leader, I must catch up!!!"

I thought I'd share it with you.

MAKING THINGS

Most of the best things require

       only a few ingredients.

Flour, water, yeast, a pinch of salt

      (a pinch of sugar too, I’d say) and time:

       kneading , rising, kneading, rising, kneading,

       baking—you’ve got bread.

Grape juice, sugar, yeast (again) and more time…

        there’s the wine.

A simple reed, plucked from the marsh,

        a sharp knife and breath makes music.

Paper, thin wood, some string, a tail and patience

        makes a kite and flight….

Then there is this—what you have made,

        perhaps not knowing….

                   The Patience you needed to deal with me!

                    The Commitment and Skill you brought to the mix.

                     The Hope and Trust to make it

                               Rise

                              Ferment

                              Sing

                               Fly.

                     And dollop after dollop of Great Good Humor—

                             that most of all.

few ingredients, but enough and more,

to make my life here joyous, wondrous, profound, incredible, magic

                      and so much fun….so much fun….

And I thank you for the feast of life, the song and the flight.

jgb/April 29, 2010