Song of Gratitude

 

Song of Gratitude

Gary Marvin Davison                 

 

Every day my feet hit the ground

I go forth on melodic waves of gratitude,

a song ever spinning on the turntables

in my auditory cortex,

lyrics riding those waves

in celebration of a life of

extraordinary good fortune

 

for

 

having been born into an

imperfect but loving family

comprised of

a father

with a loving nature,

professional discipline,

witty and incisive take on

the human enterprise,

projecting

decisiveness,

confidence,

courage;

a mother

with an elevated

appreciation of

beauty,

a reader,

sense of humor

to match

her mate,

resilience

at the upper levels

of human possibility,

for many the paragon

of motherly virtue,

child before self,

persistent conveyor of

Love;

and, oh,

a life’s

guide,

the radiant grandmother,

a laugh proceeding in stages,

ascendingly exhilarating,

liver of Life as a

Song of Joy;

 

for

 

Sweet, Sweet Barbara,

proof

of

Divinity,

Serendipitous Union,

Approaching the

Forms

of

Intelligence,

Demeanor,

Beauty;

 

for

 

Miracle Ryan,

further evidence

of

Providence,

purveyor of

childhood exuberance,

abiding Empathy,

the Ultimate Friend,   

quintessence

of

Kindness,

exemplar

of

Intellect;

 

for

 

Fran:

Model of

Human Goodness

and

Red:

apotheosis of  

of unpretentious

Intellect and

Wisdom,

Kirby:

inquisitive sceptic,

intrepid adaptor,

mark maker,

life shaker;

 

for

 

the incomparable

Dennis,

walking

comedy workshop,

effortlessly humorous,

satirical commentator

on human pretension,

with partner Beth

providing

spiritual

nourishment

to

She of the Well-Lived Life;

 

for

 

Southern Methodist University

Pinkston High School

Palm Gardens,

The Big Trip,

University of Iowa,

Taiwan,

St. Olaf College,

University of Minnesota,

multiple teaching venues,

children at the urban core

the New Salem Educational Initiative;

 

for

 

other gifts of humanity:

 

Judy,

Reverend Cooper  

Reverend Deborah      

Reverend McAfee,

NSEI students,

their families,

Rochelle,

Aimee,

Sarah,

Maria,

Adriana,

Sharon,

Sonya,

Paula,

Good Hearts of

Term in the Far East,

Members of New Salem,

Taiwanese Americans,

human engines

humming in my soul;

 

for

 

whatever ‘twas

that induced me to

shun external evaluation,

chart independent paths,

proceed in radical spirit,

live life

as

the

Love of Jesus

active in the world,  

as a

Song of Gratitude

for

Happiness at the

Spiritual Core,

the

Song never finished,

ever strumming,

ever humming,

 

leading me on.