poem: taking her for granted
poem + brief reflection
7 taking her for granted
sometimes on a late afternoon
when I’m hungry and feeling untended
a pale avocado plant, windowing too far north
I huff and think pitiful thoughts
“she doesn’t appreciate me
like I deserve—
doesn’t even hear me doing these dishes…”
but she does—I know she does
and I hear when she empties the dishwasher while I’m still in bed
and I don’t always show her the appreciation I feel for her
part of the beauty of the thing
is that, in a way, we get to take one another for granted
how different would our home feel
if every duty, rendered simply or given in love,
had to be observed—had to be praised?
and wouldn’t there be some fun lost
in serving the other in ways unexpected and unasked?
we take one another for granted
like we take the pecan tree for granted
many days we walk past, hardly looking up
enjoying the shading branches
but sometimes we gather up the little fruits
and make pecan pie
—ZW
this poem is the 7th from the LOVE section of the poetry book. maybe not the lovey-dovey section, but marital love. the willfully choosing love. the humble serving love…
and yeah, it comes from real life. sadly, my emotional life does not always reflect the life to which I am committed. but I am learning more about my relationship with emotions—that emotions are helpful signposts, but poor guides.
(no, dishes are not that hard—I am just a chump sometimes)
Lane and I don’t much celebrate Valentine’s day (happy Valentine’s day! ha), but we try to gather up the little fruits of our love and make a meal of it… cheers to you and the love in your life, in all its forms.
Q: what’s something you have learned in/from love?
a closing (silly) note on dishes—when I recognized that I sometimes had a poor attitude with dishes, I made a little note which I set above the sink and which said something like the following…
count these dishes as a blessing, for they may mean
you have recently eaten
you have a home wherein these dishes live
you have been in the company of family, friends, or both
God has granted you a small window to work and pray and think, and sing
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for some more LOVE and other poems, go pick up a copy of my first collection of poetry, Snowmelt to Roots. available on Amazon & Barnes and Noble.
I’m using this space to share poetry, songs, musings on life and the creative journey, and hopefully some encouragement. thanks for being here.
Z
This is at least the second time I read your writing and tears come to my eyes (if not exactly running down my face). The line in your dishes list "you have been in the company of friends, family, or both" hit me hard, because my dishes, although they are few, lately have not been meaning that, since I almost live alone, and eat alone most days. I have recently moved to a new town and while I am getting to know new faces (and remembering old ones), my whole being cries out for companionship. Just wanted to say something about it, I guess.