don’t judge a fish by its tail or scales or fat lips, they’re more than bubble blowers, finning in tame circles in my pond there are bullies and troublemakers silly and stupid ones some crafty, others shy the young and impressionable and the always friendly, the whole cross section of society in cliques and skin-touching friendships to the casual observer they are just fish but when the babysitter leaves the room they assume their real identities, as the water lilies tw

my friend Gary down the street is a serial sunflower grower he might be on his fifth this year each one slow to sprout, quick to grow and show off its yellow-skirted, brown faced worship of the sun before bowing to life and surrendering to death if they were dogs or cats, I’d offer him plenty of sympathy still, I put a hand on Gary’s shoulder after each one passes

too often our daily news is gut-wrenching war and death, divisive words and unending stories of meanness and suffering sadness or misery flavors every day’s main course, goodness receives a pinch of salt I write to find silver linings deeper observations that reveal connection or compassion why not focus on the idea that humans are more alike and go blurry on their differences I use a pen to shut the eyes so heartbeats can take a look not just our own but all the on