I.
We are given the raw materials
Of our lives
As on the First Day
Out of the chaos and void
Life began
What will we do with
The darkness and light
Will we separate it into a
Smooth transition of colors
As in a rainbow?
It will be anything
But smooth
Full of fits and starts
Smudges and blackouts
As if we can erase
The messes we have made
Yet stepping back
With the whole of life
In view
Of the one who falls
And is trampled under foot
Yet rises again
Painfully struggling
Forward
Into the light
Into the Love
That calls each by name
We see
The darkness is part of the canvas
Entwined with the light
Creating patterns and contrasts
Always erupting in colors at the end
The struggle of life emerging
If we only focused on
The fire scarred trunk
And did not step back
We would miss
The strength and substance
Of the ancient tree
Still green in all seasons
II.
The artist
The gardener
The teacher
The builder
The writer
The dancer
The musician
All participating in
Taking the chaos
And creating something
Useful or
Something just
Beautiful
Adding to the
life that began
When the light
Was separated from the darkness
© 2016 Julie Clark
Backfromtheborderlands's Blog 