my child, thru this prism

is how the dragonfly sees

life in a myriad of perception

and what i wish for you to learn

from this prism, these words

are that  there are many ways

life appears thru eyes

yours as well as another's

it is when you can see

thru the eyes of another

you will begin a garden

from which seeds were sown

will grow the most precious gift

you will ever give yourself

as well as a wounded world

full of selves taught hatred

the Gift of Understanding

it is a beautiful garden, my child

where even weeds are welcomed

it is in the tunneling of vision

myopia, that our lives narrow

the self-becomes centered, blinded

a peripheral world of nightmares

fearful of shadows, too soon mistrusted beings

who for the most part

are in essence harmless

it is therefore thru these words

this prism lie my hopes

seeking for you freedom

from the only human blindness, i fear

selfishness

as you gaze with the dragonfly

become one with it

test those wings of imagination

let the experience open your eyes

to a world bathed in the light

of understanding, feel as others feel

let it touch your heart

with the joy of compassion, wonder

the world was meant to be shared

be happy in that sharing

as i am in sharing life with you

it is thru the understanding of others

we come to see and discover ourselves

the path is circular

it is thru your eyes i see me

my child, i give you this word

heliotaxis

it means to grow towards

or away from the sun

choose the light

choose to understand

         Phoenix   88

for Ryan Ray, happy birthday and the Nature Company whose prism provided the inspiration