Perceptions

Strange how shifting light
Alters the world
And it’s never the same.
Every moment
Presents a new observation
On an old theme.

Subtle refractions
Of light
And shadow
Change everything.

If you’re not looking
You’ll miss it.

You handed me coffee
This morning
Smiling
But the slightest curl
On your lip
Was a new take
On an old message.

I saw it.

How many things
Of great importance
Have I missed
Because I wasn’t looking?

Light alters perceptions
Constantly
Scrambling everything
From my environment
To matters of the heart.

I miss
What I swore I never would.

At day's end
The parade will have
Passed
While I was gazing at
Debris
In the gutter.