for Sherry Richert Belul
With a LOVE stamp, the woman I’ve never met
mailed me five dollars, “to be a reminder
that abundance can come unexpectedly,”
she wrote, and sitting with her letter in my lap,
I thought of last night’s snow—
five white inches that fell after midnight
and softened the whole hard world.
And I thought of the orchid on my mantle
that sprouted a new stem of purple buds
even as the other stem continued to bloom.
And I thought of my office mate bringing in
nine tins of exotic teas to share. And my daughter
sending me a text to say she loved me “soooo much.”
And I thought of a woman in a town a thousand
miles away, a woman I have never met,
who thought, “I think I’ll send five dollars
to someone who brought abundance into my life.”
How simple it is to manifest unforeseen joy.
How clear the invitation to extend gratitude,
to spread good will, to remind each other
how the world will offer itself, will open
and open and open, how we, ourselves,
are the agents of the world.
I need a hanky. That was so beautiful ❤️
thank you, friend … I believe you, too, are a secret agent
Your very welcome and thank you Rosemerry, that’s very kind of you to say.
Yes. And, “Whoever you are,.. the world offer itself to your imagination… —over and over announcing your place in the family of things.” -Mary Oliver
Yes. And, “With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” -Max Ehrmann
Yes. And, I say it is precisely proper that you who has persistently pointed toward abundance—hidden and in plain open sight—receive your own presentation of the abundance ever-present in this fecund and astonishing world.
Yes. And, you’ve had it coming, dearest amiga. Honor your actions, even the smallest. They matter.
Yes. And, finally, there’s this: 100 Falling Veils currently has 1969 followers.
yes, that Oliver line is ever in my mind. and yes, that Ehrmaan quote is spot on, and that’s a fun thing to note about followers! plus about 500 who get it as an email … it makes me happy thinking of the poems going out there into the world to do their poemy thing … hugs to you, sweet secret agent brummel.