A Fish or a Rose
Nothing is as it appears
and hindsight bears this out...
Looking back, I see the truth
and marvel without doubt.
Gifts in life presented with
the most loving intent...
arrived quite unexpectedly
wrapped in paper, rent.
And what appeared to be dead fish
was often but a rose...
a fact I would, right off, deduce
with my mind but not my nose.
The greatest gifts, surprises,
were ones with wrap I did abhor...
those opportunities for growth
hand-delivered to my door.
I always got what I did need
at any given time...
albeit but a smile and wink
or a mountain yet to climb.
The most priceless gifts of all, you see
Were those but wrapped in pain.
They were the greatest lessons,
that reaped the greatest gain.
I have to laugh and recognize
how often came a rose...
and all the times that I assumed
with mind but never nose!
Yes, nothing is as it appears
and hindsight bears this out...
looking back, I see the truth
and marvel without doubt.