As I lie in bed in the morning light gazing from my pillow out my window

As I lie in bed in the morning light gazing from my pillow out my window

There is a tree that sticks up on my horizon and not prettily either. I want to shave it off. But then I will need to topple the cell phone tower with the pink lights first, won’t I? Why mess with the tree? Usually I lower my shades to hide the offending tree and tower framing only the green of the field and the darker green of the treed hills beyond.

Do I hide the tree and tower to avoid the offences of daily life--looking only at what I prefer. Or do I embrace the good to survive? Is this another sign that I choose not to deal with the vicissitudes of life, or that I know I banish disappointments in order to live, because I know I am not equipped.

I finished my book and the words that broke my heart are written by the author, but are not in the story: “ I hope too that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art—be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised.” Mary Ann Shaffer

Sometimes it is all you can do. It is the only skill you have. You create art because you can’t do anything else.