We take for granted many things:
our parents' love, a bird that sings,
the fragrance of a lovely rose,
each dawning day that comes and goes.

We live our lives without a care
and hope that all our days are fair.
We are not thankful for each breath
and push back every thought of death.

But somewhere down the line we find
a change occurs in heart and mind.
We glide along, then something bad
comes to our lives to make us sad.

We lose a loved one or a friend...
a broken heart is hard to mend.
It's then we realize the years
will hold not only joy, but tears.

So in the Winter of our days,
we find the strength to change our ways.
We cultivate an ancient art:
to cherish memories of the heart.

Dena R. Gorrell
Edmond, OK