thankful

Today I'm thankful for many things,
like flowers from my neighbor Tammilynne:
a dear, dear friend of seventeen years,
a cohort through many trials and fears.

Life's surprising and one
never knows what will die and what will grow.
The flowers here were volunteers
sprung from a crop that grew and died,
leaving buried seeds behind.

Actions always lead to ends, though
tempted otherwise, don't pretend. Decide
what to stand for, who to love, what to speak out
and what to leave, unsaid, for God above.