ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Paul enjoyed setting up his easel in various locations. When we lived closer to the downtown area of Minneapolis, a favorite spot was located near the rail yards. Box cars were lined up and stacked to the hilt while others stand in formation, ready to roll. The sounds of the city can be annoying, loud, hard to listen to, but each has a voice. Listening is one of those senses we tend to ignore. Maybe if we did more of it, the ride would be much smoother.

Listen to the sounds –

The crashing of the box car containers,

As they transfer to waiting freight trains,

The rat-a-tat of a nail gun,

Attaching a new roof or constructing a building,

I feel the wind,

A gentle breeze wafting its way through the trees,

Tickling them as she passes,

I watch as children play and see,

Their enjoyment of each other,

Their joy in the little things,

Like digging in dirt, or playing tag,

The smells of the city,

Hot asphalt repairing broken roads,

The fragrance that emits from a bakery,

Or a pizza place,

All the senses come to attention in the city,

The angry groan of a car as it grumbles to start,

Birds chirping – doors slamming – classical music emoting from a radio,

Distant sounds of traffic – an occasional jet flying overhead – the whir of a helicopter,

A garbage truck, the paper boy tossing the morning news at your door,

Always in motion, even while we sleep – always life – sometimes confusion,

Yet they comfort us with the knowledge that,

The world is still alive.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!