Sharon A. Larsen

We human beings
like to take the joy out of life.
We learn early
about responsibility,
getting ahead,
making money,
buying things.
We argue with each other,
criticize, judge,
and only sometimes
get along
or fall in love.
Yet of an evening,
when we look off to the west
and see the pink-tinged sky
glow over the dark treetops
or when the sparrow
splashes in the puddle,
or the tiger lily opens,
we feel
an irrational joy,
that all is well in this world
despite us.