MIRRORS OF LIFE - MAGNIFISCENT GENEROSITY

MIRRORS OF LIFE

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SOME SAY HE WAS JUST AN OLD SHEPARD WITH SHEEP
AND AN OLD DOG HIS ONLY FRIEND
EXCEPT PERHAPS FOR THE WHITE OAK TREES,
THE FOREST, THE GROUND AND THE WIND.

HIS ONLY SON AND WIFE NOW DEAD
THEIR MEMORY LIVED WITH HIM INSIDE
AND THAT WAS WHERE ELZEARD BOUFFIER STAYED
TIL 1947, THE YEAR HIS BODY DIED.

FOR EVERY SOUL BUILDS FROM WITHIN
AND DAILY THERE MUST RETURN
UNTIL AT LAST HERE IN LIFE
THEIR LESSON THEY HAVE LEARNED.

SO HE TOOK A LIKING TO PLANTING SEEDS
OF OAK AND OTHER TREES
ANY PLACE THE GROUND WAS BARE
ELZEARD WAS ON HIS KNEES.

IN HIS HEART WAS NO SELF-GLORY
NO ACCOLADES OF CHEER
NO PARADES OR AWARDS
FOR THE THING HE MOST LOVED DEAR

TO FIND A QUILT OF LAVENDER
LAID ACROSS A BAREN LAND
AND CAREFULLY TO PLANT SELECTED SEED
FROM THE WARM PALM OF HIS HAND.

FROM THOSE SEEDS A TOWN WAS REBORN
WHERE LAVENDER COVERED THE GROUND
AND LINDEN HERE AND THERE
IN LITTLE BUNCHES COULD BE FOUND

TO REMIND OF RESURRECTION MORN
WHEN ALL WOULD BE ANEW
THIS WAS THE DREAM OF ELZEARD I'M SURE
AND THESE WORDS I PEN FOR YOU.

THEPOETSKISS COPYRIGHT 2002

POEM IDEA INSPIRED FROM ARTICLE BELOW:

THE MAN WHO PLANTED HOPE
By Jean Giono