What rescues you
when you are smothered under
the sense of being thought of as a number? —
the numbing nothingness of being counted,
accounted for,
packaged and dispatched,
your measure taken,
assessed, dismissed
and so forsaken?
Any act of life can rescue you
and anyone or any living thing can do it
The scent of petals, kissed by warming wind
A smile unweighed, uncalculated, treasured
Or seeing someone needs you as a friend
A gift of time untallied and unmeasured
Whatever focuses on what is infinite
will make a place for you
and bring you into it.
©Wendy Mulhern
April 29, 2012
(background music: Isaac Shepard “A Fond Farewell”)