Perspective Poem by Diana van den Berg

Within my tattered heart
I hold the sacred blueprints
of happiness and strength.
Take copies and pass them on and on
and know all who do
that we are the luckiest and richest alive
for we know
that tears and pain and compassion,
cushion and enhance moments of joy, wonder and laughter;
that those who attack us,
sadly don’t know our power and triumph of refusing to retaliate;
that taking responsibility is worth millions;
Personally I now know
that the happiness and strength
I thought had eluded me
for fifty-nine summers,
has carried me, on a crest, through them all,
and will,
to the end of my days.

(25 November 2004)