“The mower is humming loudly.” So much to this line. Humming is typically not that loud so I love the juxtaposition here… that no noise (literal, metaphorical, societal) should keep us from connecting with other human beings.
Reading this caused me to be amazed at God's gift of proximity (out of anywhere on earth, he has ordained that I would live in THIS neighborhood with THESE people). And it also gut-punch convicted me of the need to treat my neighbors like the imago dei image-bearers that they are. Our world needs more people looking up into each other's eyes and inviting them into the love of Christ. Not people looking down and avoiding one another. Thank you, Zane. Keep it up. Why are you not hanging out with Malcolm Guite yet? :)
The scope here is brilliant. It is like that old Powers of 10 video clip they showed us in school, zooming in from the galaxy and landing in a yard and seeing a person up close. And we don't have time to say hello! I love how you leave us feeling this choice and don't add a rhyming couplet about how we should take the time to be neighborly (which I would have been tempted to do). I love this!
That's encouraging to hear. I'm glad it came across that way. I had actually written a draft of a longer version with lines added on, but felt like it ultimately wanted to end here. Glad it worked for you. Thanks for reading, Abigail.
“The mower is humming loudly.” So much to this line. Humming is typically not that loud so I love the juxtaposition here… that no noise (literal, metaphorical, societal) should keep us from connecting with other human beings.
Exactly! Thanks for reading, Rosa.
Oof. Great one Zane. Reminder to further befriend my new neighbors. Shared humanity. 🥺
Reading this caused me to be amazed at God's gift of proximity (out of anywhere on earth, he has ordained that I would live in THIS neighborhood with THESE people). And it also gut-punch convicted me of the need to treat my neighbors like the imago dei image-bearers that they are. Our world needs more people looking up into each other's eyes and inviting them into the love of Christ. Not people looking down and avoiding one another. Thank you, Zane. Keep it up. Why are you not hanging out with Malcolm Guite yet? :)
Thanks for reading, Zak. I'm humbled and encouraged that you would think about all of that from this short poem. Made my day.
"Good fences make good neighbors"
A necessary poem for the moment. Thanks, Zane.
Thank you, Timothy.
The scope here is brilliant. It is like that old Powers of 10 video clip they showed us in school, zooming in from the galaxy and landing in a yard and seeing a person up close. And we don't have time to say hello! I love how you leave us feeling this choice and don't add a rhyming couplet about how we should take the time to be neighborly (which I would have been tempted to do). I love this!
Love this one, Zane.
Thank you!
A favorite, Zane. So timely for this time we find ourselves in. I pray we can see past the mower—and the roaring sound it makes—to see one another. 🙏🏼
Absolutely! Thank you for reading, Kimberly.
🙏🏼
That's encouraging to hear. I'm glad it came across that way. I had actually written a draft of a longer version with lines added on, but felt like it ultimately wanted to end here. Glad it worked for you. Thanks for reading, Abigail.