lenten journal: among the wildflowers

4
1562

I am fortunate to be driving across Texas just as the bluebonnets are blooming. Here’s where they took me.

among the wildflowers

the old pickup rolled to a stop
on the shoulder of the two-lane road

the gravel spoke underneath
the worn boots of the workmen

who walked to the front of the truck
that was sending sighs of steam

into the early spring morning
of a not very good day

two of them stood and stared at
the smoking engine as though

they could change something
the other walked to the edge

of the field of wildflowers
“Jesús, what are you doing?”

“look at the bluebonnets,” he said,
“they only last a couple of weeks

but they do more than just survive
they spend their little lives for beauty.”

one of the others was on the phone
the other was digging for tools

they weren’t listening to the man
as he stepped across the ditch

and laid down among the blooms
“gracias,” he said, “gracias.”

Peace,
Milton

PS—How could I not include this song? The Wailin’ Jennys do a wonderful cover of Tom Petty’s classic.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Gracias and gracias for that wonderful image of the man lying in the bluebonnets. They are a sight to lift us to heaven!

  2. This made my morning. As I watch another blanket of snow falling, it makes me long to be lying in the bluebonnets. There is always something for which we can utter “gracias.” Thank you, Milton.

Leave a Reply