by Sarah James

Dear child,

 

I do not ask you 

to be perfect–

 

I ask you 

to be good.

 

For the road to perfect 

is paved with the purest of plights,

 

But the grace to good is

a fall to your knees

an action unasked–

a mistake.

 

I do not ask you 

to be beautiful–

 

I ask you

to bloom.

 

Brothers, sisters, misters:

 

I hope I see you rise,

not run.

 

I do not ask you to change 

everything. 

 

I ask you 

to change.

 

See you in the spaces between,

 

-God