By Charles Hayden Strahan
There is nothing more simple
than how you find your joy.
And not the kind that’s derived
from games or from toys.
But rather, it’s natural.
The little things on this planet,
that as I’ve grown older
I’ve taken for granted.
I’ve seen you on mornings
that don’t start off right,
where you’re tired, or hungry,
or couldn’t sleep through the night.
Your eyes full of tears.
You scream and you shout.
You fight every step
As we make our way out.
But as soon as you see
those purple-pink skies
I watch as the sun
and your spirits both rise.
And I’ve seen you on evenings
you don’t want to be over,
when you’d rather stay out
picking flowers and clovers.
And although we both know
it’s time to head off to bed
before we go in
we make a quick stop instead.
We walk to the corner
where we can hear the bugs cry.
And to you they sing songs
like sweet lullabies.
I’m afraid I can’t see
Or hear the world like you do
But I feel the world’s light
shining brightly through you.
So when the hustle and bustle
of the world gets too loud
your laugh sings like crickets
and I tune the rest out.
When the fog starts to roll in
and my clouds start to gray,
your smile is my pink sky
and I know I’m okay.
Charles Hayden Strahan is a Receiving Administrative Coordinator at UAMS Northwest.