Four men stand at water’s edge peering into the wind.

The man who cringes, cowers, and cries before the tempest.
When he dies they sing of frailty, of sorrow, of pity.

The man who rails, fumes, and tilts against the gale.
When he dies they sing of comedy, of tragedy, of farce.

The man who builds the walls to protect the others.
When he dies they sing of wisdom, of kindness, of grace.

The man who builds the boat to sail into the storm.
When he dies they sing of spirit, of courage, of glory.

Each morn we rise and decide which man today.
When we die they count the days, and sing.

One day a heart woke up and knew that it was blind. It was a strong heart, and disposed to solving problems. It worked hard, and eventually grew a pair of eyes. Then one day it woke up and knew it could not breathe. Again, harder now, it grew a pair of lungs. Then one day it woke up and knew it could not walk, redoubled its labors, and added legs. In turn it awoke to realize it could not hold, smell, taste, or defecate and with increasing effort solved the challenges ahead of it. And then one day the heart woke up, and died, exhausted.

One day a heart woke up and knew that it was blind. It was a smart heart, and disposed to cleverness. What did a heart need sight for — the eyes would do that. It could not breathe, and yet the air showed up. It could not walk, and yet it moved without injury. It could not defecate, and yet the waste vanished. All its needs were seen to. So it beat ten fewer times that day. Still the air came. Then one day it woke up and beat a hundred fewer times. Still the body moved. Then one day it woke up and beat a thousand fewer times. Still the arms touched, the nose smelt, the tongue tasted and the waste left. So it continued. And then one day the heart woke up, and died, alone.

One day a heart woke up and knew that it was blind.  It was a heart, and disposed to beating. It beat in thanks to the eyes. It could not breathe, and it beat in thanks to the lungs. It could not walk, hold, smell or taste and it beat in thanks to the legs, arms, nose and mouth. In turn, it even thanked the ass. And then one day the heart woke up, and thumped, in joy.

Those shoes. Stitching so fine.
That shirt. How it hangs.
This fruit. Juice dripping.
Limited time offer.

Parent’s love. Accepting without question.
Lover’s touch.  Safety in embrace.
Child’s laugh. Contagious smiling.
Limited time offer.

Romance rebuffed. Rejected and alone.
Broken body. Suffering without rest.
Warring cities. Sewers of blood.
Limited time offer.

Beach sunrise. So orange.
Mountain clouds. So white.
Rolling oceans. So blue.
Limited time offer.

That breath. Rising, falling.
That heartbeat. Thumping, thumping.
This instant. Thinking, feeling.
Limited time offer.

Act now.

– A. B. Clarke, Mar 2015