A Different Story

A Different Story

When all the news is bad

    I go out and look at clouds…

They are telling a different story.

    Oh, and the stars at night!

Flashing mystery and promise,

    extolling patience…

I listen to the birds,

    conversing on a rooftop…

Twittering so joyfully…

    never mentioning a single worry.

The breeze plays with my hair,

    ignoring how gray it’s getting…

I have to smile at persistent weeds

    testing new-planted grass…

No one has forewarned them

    weeds are unwanted.

Life keeps unfolding

    telling me I’ll be here to see it…

Or if I’m not exactly here—

    I’ll be somewhere looking on…

Either way, we’ll be together—

    hugging and remembering good times…

That’s the story I hear from the universe—

    the story I keep telling myself…

When all the news is bad.