The Beauty of Things

 

                        By Jim Burns

When you’re sad

and the world bleeds blue

summon up

your youthful you.

Look around

with the eyes of that child,

take it all in,

the soft and the mild—

The sea at sunrise

the sea at sunset,

tranquil beauty

elsewhere unmet.

Moonlight sparkling

on new-fallen snow,

God looking down

on stars he did sow.

Droplets of dew

cling to a leaf,

nature’s artwork

however brief.

A newborn puppy

stretches and yawns,

kittens purr in a basket,

the new day dawns.

Spiderwebs after a rain

are studies in grace,

wondrously woven

works of fine lace.

Clouds float above you,

lambs they might be

or joyous spirits

only you can see.

And the smile of a lover,

ah, that smile

can light up your life

with its absence of guile—

Think of these things

when the world seems cold,

for all around you

lies beauty untold.

Drink it in with your eyes,

let it into your heart,

make the beauty be you,

your own work of art.

About the author:

Jim Burns was born and raised in rural Indiana, received degrees from Indiana State University (B.S., Social Studies; M.S.,History) and Indiana University (MLS, Library Science), and worked as a librarian for most of his professional life. After retirement in an effort to keep his mind active he began writing, which he had done a bit in the past, and has seen his work, both poetry and prose, in Pages Literary Journal, athinsliceofanxiety.com, eucalyptuslit.com, Skipjack Review, Cowboy Jamboree and others. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with wife and dog, his most loyal fangirls.