January 6, 2023
PROOFS
THAT GOD EXISTS
Rain, but not all rainy days.
The bark of trees – especially pine.
Ice cream – with the right ingredients,
the right cold and the right flavor -
and enjoying it with the right person.
Of course, other sights: a tiny green leaf -
clover growing in between cement on
sidewalk cracks – but not my sidewalk.
A full moon on the ocean – Eucharist –
the monstance of dark black night sky -
light shaking on the waters at 11 P.M.
and big mountains – especially
big Colorado grey mountains and
a lot more – more – keep noticing.
Reflections
©
Andy Costello
January 5, 2023
BLUE
BLACK INK
It used to come in surprise shaped two inch high bottles:
Waterman’s blue black ink. Even as a tiny kid I could get
an injection of ink from them – using the gold colored clip
on the side of’ my fountain pen. It gave me enough ink
to do my homework. It gave me enough ink to write
a 9 year old’s first poems. Where are they now? Sorry
to say, they are mostly gone. Yet I would think they were
part of my path to becoming a poet. Then there was my 3rd
year high school English teacher – who read a poem I
wrote out loud. Mentioning my name said, “Never ever
write a poem again.” Everyone in the class laughed.
As a result of that comment, I didn’t write my next poem,
till I was 35. Fountain pens were almost gone. Ball point
pens were now in – usually with blue or black ink.
At a workshop we were told to write a poem and I said
to myself, “Oh no!” Yet we had to – and then everyone
picked my poem. I often think where did all the poems I
would have written from 15 till 35 go? Maybe they are
there in black and blue on the skin paper of my soul.
Reflections © Andy
Costello
January 4, 2023
DOORS
Maybe it’s a good idea to pause
for just a split second when we
come to a door. It's probably not
heaven's door - but who knows -
who really knows who and what
is on the other side of any door?
Stop - pause - wonder - before ringing
the bell or knocking on that door.
Maybe a prayer would
be good –
or a hope – or maybe a question –
or a “You never know” – wondering
whether this person we’re about to meet
could use recognition – could feel we’re really
here for them and not us. Them! Them! Them!
And sometimes - sorry - sorry - sorry - we
can knock and knock and knock and
nobody is on the other side of that door.
Reflections © Andy Costello
