Widen the Lens

Widen the Lens

Widen the lens
Pull your gaze
Off the ugly
For even a moment
Refocus

The sadness
The heartless destruction
Of lives
And livelihoods
Of buildings
And homes
Remains in 
The field of vision
But take away
Its all-consuming
Power
Over your heart

See also
The feathered friends
Flying
With abandon
Resting now 
Upon naked
Branches

See also the fringes of ice
Decorating the edges
Of the comforters
Which lay 
Upon the 
River rocks

See also
The tree trunks
Reflected
In the stillness
Of downstream water


See also
The meadow
Beyond the trees
At river’s edge
Dormant now
With carpet
Of marshmallow
White
Protecting its soil

See also
The hint of buds
Erupting on
Winter branches
Looking like raisins
Representing
Hope

Allow your breath 
To be released
Your lungs to expand
Your fears to diminish

And 
See also
Creation 
Steadfast Reminder
That Love
Will overpower hate.

Patricia O’Connor