What do you see
When you see a flower?
Do you see just that...
A plant?
Or something else?
Do you notice the veins
Running through the leaves,
Like roots of green string
Lines a paler colour
Than the larger indentations.
Do you see the petals
Curves perfect half-circles,
Texture that of velvet
Soft and smooth,
But a slight coarseness to coat.
Touch lightly with your hand
The smell left like a birthmark
On your fingertips,
Do you see this
Beautiful, natural gift
Or just
A flower?
What do you see
When you see a strawberry?
Do you see just that...
A fruit?
Or something different?
Do you see the minute hairs
Coating the rubbery skin,
A fine layer of almost invisible seeds
Smaller than a grain of sand.
Do you notice the redness
Gleaming like a jewel,
An edible ruby, just as precious,
Slice a cut with your fingernail
And watch the crimson juice
Run like tiny waterfalls
Dripping down your wrist.
Feel the feathery stem
In which it was once attached,
Ragged edges where it was picked
Ready to eat,
Do you see this
Wonderful, delicious delight
Or just
A strawberry?
What do you see
When you see a stream?
Do you see just that...
Water?
Or something more?
Do you see the clearness
Air pockets of bubbles
Below the top,
Pebbles glistening beneath
Wet and wondrous.
Do you notice the way
In which it never stops,
Always flowing, always gurgling,
How it carved it's path long ago
And still it carries itself
Over rocks, tree roots, fields,
Underneath the earth,
Over the sky line,
Keeping animals alive,
Providing a home for insects,
Making fun for children
As they scream with laughter in paddling
In the coldness, as it rushes
Over their feet.
Do you see this
Perfect, liquid silver
Or just
A stream?
Do you see
All of these things
As
What they are?
Just a flower,
Just a strawberry,
Just a stream,
As
Just objects,
Tangible things,
Taken for granted
They're always there
So therefore always will be.
What's the point
In thinking about them?
Or do you look beyond
The surface
And take time
To see what lies underneath?
Not all is what it seems to be....
So next time I ask you
What do you see?
I hope you will say
Not everything,
But
Anything.