Thank you, Ramona, for
the reminder to look for goodness, even in unexpected places.
You can read Ramona’s post here along with links to our cohort’s reflections.
I found goodness this week and it inspired in me gratitude prayer.
Gather Goodness
like wildflowers
the choral strains call
from a distant field
come closer
the teacher’s cupped hands
cradle tomorrows
come closer
the rabbi’s open palms
offer hope
come closer
and you believe
you too can be
goodness
for someone
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Poem ©2023 Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Patricia, I like your last line, “and you believe you too can be goodness for someone” We don’t always see ourselves as being role models of goodness, but we are. We just have to believe it.
What a beautiful poem! I lvoe the repetition of “come closer” and that call to action at the end.
A beautiful poem, Patricia. I like the calls from far and wide, and your answer. The inspiration to believe we can offer goodness is a blessing… a huge and valuable blessing. Thank you for highlighting it.
This small poem brought tears to my eyes. Such wisdom and love and hope! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing the goodness you created with us. I especially love the lines:
“the teacher’s cupped hands
cradle tomorrows
come closer”
Your words remind us that each of us “can be goodness for someone.”
Your poem is beautiful. Your words remind us that each of us can be goodness for someone. You are that someone who brought goodness with your words today. Thanks for writing and sharing.
What a delight to read your poem. Your words brought goodness to me today. I especially love the repetition of “Come closer,” and the alliteration of the c sounds scattered throughout the poem.
What a delight to read your poem.I especially love the repetition of “Come closer,” and the alliteration of the c sounds scattered throughout the poem. Your words brought goodness to me today.
Oops! So sorry, Patricia. Feel free to delete most of my responses. I kept getting a strange message from Firefox, so I switched to Chrome and discovered all of my responses had shown up.
Patricia, I traveled to your blog post several days ago and am so glad that I backtracked. I thought I added a comment when I first read your post but see that it is not here. Your poem blends the beauty of nature with a variety of options that provide goodness in life. Your gratitude poem offers the hope that humans can find goodness in various places and with various persons, including self. The seeds of gratitude exist in open hearts. Thanks for reminding readers that we all need to believe that and extend kindness with a love of life to all. Your gentle voice is heard through your words.
So lovely, Patricia! Thank you!