“GRATITUDE”
Gratitude is a gift opened for sobriety
simply breathing a minute in time
Gratitude is an emotion learned
riding waves of empathy
Gratitude is one key opening a caring heart
covered in seven veils of suspicion
Gratitude is being happy hugging a friend
recalling people on the lane to love
Gratitude is standing after falling down
damage healed moving forward
Gratitude is making choices—accepting
unwanted consequences—discovery
Gratitude is a stepping stone on the path
living in light without shadows
Gratitude is the name of long ago events
holes in time, held in hands of fate
April Ryan is a blossoming Washington poet, and she knows it.
SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
SHARING STORIES is featured on http://www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit http://www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type “sharing stories” in the search function above.
