Worthy of Good Report
Virginia Salter

All that is . . .worthy of good report, think on these things.

Might there be beauty
in the smile of a lipless boy
or the leg-hug of an armless girl?
greater vision from the heart
of one who is sightless?

When weeds spread
across the land as dandelion fluff,
might there be joy
when one fluffy-headed stem
clutched in the hands
of a loving son intent upon adorning
his most precious loved one
with one of nature’s sparklers?
What of the smile upon his mother’s lips
and the tear of delight in her eye.

Where is beauty,
perhaps the better question,
where is beauty perceived?

large sandy beaches of southern California,
beautiful, warm
yet the rocky Oregon coastline
of autumn brings such joy
under the spray from salty waters

are not all these things
worthy of good report

may I always see
with a clear vision
the beauty of this world
not just dandelion seeds making weeds
out of a child's gift

© August 22. 2000