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| Henri Matisse 1869 - 1954 Le bonheur de vivre” (“The joy of life”) |
Have you grasped the greatness of your being,
discerned somehow there’s a purpose in your life,
a miracle beyond present comprehension,
been reassured by glimmers of inner light?
*
Have you midst your everyday occupation,
or solitary, on some quiet evening stroll,
been overwhelmed on hearing strains of music
in harmony with a soul-song of your own?
*
Have you been present at birth’s miracle,
heard, as she heard with her Mum, a babe’s first cry;
then later, wondered at her first simple sentence,
new life communicate with her waiting world?
*
Have you experienced the truest joys of friendship,
somewhere on your life’s journeyings,
breaking bread in the company of some stranger,
departing more complete for such time spent?
*
Have you thought on those circumstances manipulated
in this world’s prisons with greater flaws than yours;
seen the world through their dehumanizing barriers,
as cruelly restrained as bars or cold stone walls?
*
Have you had the privilege to be present,
hearing last thoughts of another’s whispered words,
holding their hand, caring and farewelling,
knowing you were a comfort at their end?
*
Have you felt the true worth of your being,
that magic ‘something’ deep within your soul;
that come what may and though your very world
did tremble round you … all would be well?
*
Should this have been your fortunate experience,
then blessed are you, a thousand times I say;
and I pray that now this privileged possession
you’ll somehow share with us of lesser clay.
*
Dennis Crompton © 1997
(first published www.denniscrompton.wordpress.com 2013)
