One Rose Poem by Jim Yerman

(If we only saw a field of flowers stretching out in a hundred rows
We may never truly appreciate the beauty of one rose.)

When I look at the life Deborah and I have had…
to this fact I must attest
With 3 children and 4 grandchildren…
we have both been blessed.

We have been extremely lucky as we've watched them grow
to realize how together they set our world aglow.

But we also love to take a moment…on this we both agree
to stop what we are doing…
and think of each one separately.

(If a crowded forest is the only view our eyes will ever see
we may never know the beauty of that solitary tree.)

So periodically we take a moment to look at each child individually
to savor the beauty that is growing on our own family tree.

(If only in the harmony of a choir we rejoice
we may never know the beauty of that one distinctive voice.)

We think back to a time long ago when they were babies…
when they sucked their thumb
and then we look today at the person they've become.

We find when we take the time to look at each one individually
we are pleasantly surprised…at what we hear and see.

It seems remembering each child independently
gives us a moment to rejoice
and listen to the beauty we hear in a single voice.

When we take the time to remember each child individually
is when we discover the beauty and the wonder of that single tree….

Yes, looking at a single child…through their triumphs and their woes
is when we truly appreciate…the beauty of one rose.