On The Strength of Input

Swing low sweet chariot
Come forth an whisk me away
Because the more I stare at this beautiful globe
The more I feel confined by our planet
By my vocabulary
By gravity
By my perceptions, or worse: yours
I like to think about life, existence, and the essence of humanity
But clearly my cardigan gives that away
It doesn't have to be all introspection
All philosophy
I can give you some attention too
If you are Mary Lennox, asking me, Archibald Craven
For a bit of earth
Evidence that you matter
That you effect the world
I can oblige
Everybody needs a little affirmation
Maybe that's why I like writing letters so much
It's so focused
So personal
So unlike what I'm surrounded by
We miss moments
Moments that could provide clarity
We overlook the beauty and the connectedness of it all
How I am shaped by:
Silly songs and stories created with my grandparents during childhood
My memory of these songs, these moments that I can share when I sing a baby to sleep
The world of literature that activates the mind
And suddenly allows my own happenings to intermingle with every story I've encountered
My brother and sister who are my peers and my children
That now when I visit home, it's a delight to wake up to them
Traditions that are dear, and people that are dear too
The evenings spent in the safety of red Koolaid
The comfort of the bowl of M&Ms
And the joy of each other's company
Nothing is distinct
All comes together in a rush
To some, a picture's worth a thousand words
But to me, a word is worth a thousand memories
The details of eighteen summers, two surprise birthday parties, and countless bowls of chicken noodle soup
Hurricaning in my brain as I wait at the train station
Waiting for a bunch of blue ribbons
Beginning to doubt the promise will be fulfilled
Gripping the bench seat, knowing it's been days
And Johnny's still not back from the fair
I fret and I worry
But then remember
That's it's really okay
Because the romance is in the waiting