
A Circumstance of Growth
There is an enormous log
In back of our house,
In front of an old cottage,
Beside a grove of ferns.
It was once a great cedar
Cut down long after its prime,
Left to decompose unnoticed,
And to deteriorate carelessly.
The log is a jumble of lichens and
Little blue and yellow whatevers,
Purple strands and green softness
Creeping all over its decay.
It is home for more than many a
Creature that loves the wretched
And the crumbling. Creatures that
We don’t want near our house.
Admirers come from far and near
To see what is new on the old.
The log, an opportunity like most
Opportunities, is odd in its presentation,
Misinterpreted in its appearance,
But forgiving with our appreciation
And flourishing with our acceptance.
Susan Patterson