Aloes and Myrrh
John 19:39
Mark 16:1
The violet does not need gold beside
Its root in dirt. The bloom will come out white
Or purple lacking precious metal. Wide
The rule is: meaningful or not, despite
Gold’s bogus merit, little loving things
Are just themselves and do not need a saint
To grace them. Kindnesses spread angel wings
Around themselves. Additions might just taint
The perfect ordinary. Merit comes,
Intrinsic. Diamonds are not required.
The beauty of a decent action thrums
With godliness. Its goodness is inspired.
Inspired? Not even that is needed. Do
It for its simple sake, for holy you.
~ Phillip Whidden
Phillip, the poem is extremely thoughtful, demanding that the reader sort a way through humble loveliness to what I might call “integrity.” “Little loving things” need no prizes, being their own reward–if we even go so far as to say that. You try and succeed here in gently dismissing everything except simple goodness itself. And yet there is infinitely more to it! Your few images and your careful but unobtrusive direction of thought create a paradox worthy of much meditation.
Margaret, I almost never check here for comments. I am too fanatically writing and posting (over 3,900) sonnets instead. It is good you sent me a heads up by e-mail. I’m touched and pleased by your comments. I personally love the lowliness of the little violet in the lowly photo. I once had a meditative article in a major religious magazine entitled “Little Attentons.” That was long ago. It was on the same subject matter (not the violet).