We did 32 poems to these magnetic word pairings for Global Poetry writing month in April. Well, there are seven left from my door 20 years ago when my Thanksgiving fairies arranged the pairings. I still do not know who put them together which makes them even more special. Here comes #33 and an intention to publish them all in a book for us. Oh, credit to my friend Ashley for coining a “pandemic of entitlement” for this poem.
Recover Gratitude
In this pandemic of entitlement|
this time of “I deserve”
when every emotion is somehow sacred,
a right to geyser it out
without counting to 10
or finding kind words
following kindergarten wisdom
when we consider the feelings of others.
The remedy
is rediscovering gratitude.
Scheduling joy
snack time, nap time,
breathe and journal,
walk in the woods,
listen to birdsong,
sing, dance, jump in puddles
kiss, hug, say “I love you,”
say “I love me,”
be
be grateful
reclaim childlike gratitude
spread a pandemic of gratefulness.
CreatetheDawn 