The Petal That I Hold Inside My Hand.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

the way to live
is simply to live each
moment.

it is not to live days
in advance,
neither was it, days
before that.

it is here, this moment,
that counts, what life is.

this moment, this that i
do, this that i am, this
that i hold, and cherish.

the beautiful bird that
flies above me,
or that magical butterfly
yesterday,
are never mine.

this petal that i hold,
that i keep in my hand,
this is life,
and i keep it for this moment
in time.