! In The Spirit Of Rumi: 61: P R A I S E Poem by Michael Shepherd

Observation, acknowledgement,
gratitude, praise, a friendship –
call it what you will -
language is generous;

maybe it starts with, every birthday,
a fleeting touch of all this;

it could spread, every morning
an acknowledgement that love
wakes each morning with you
in the bed, in the air,
in the sunlight;

you could become as a Buddhist
and each breath would be
like that; the Compassionate One
saying, yes, that’s how it is, this moment;

then there’s the heartbeat –
each time the heart pumps again,
the Lord renews His faith in you,
says yes, I can still see Myself
there, just keep going…

the Lord smiles at you; and
maybe you smile back;

that’s friendship.