Saturday as my husband and I drove through our ordinarily quiet and seemingly safe neighborhood we were surprised to see police vans and cruisers completely lining a small street two very short blocks behind our home. When my son and I saw even more police vehicles on the street yesterday I searched the news online to see what was happening, and discovered that a full fledged police investigation (the kind I enjoy watching unfold on Castle) is underway practically in my backyard. A woman is missing (as well as her couch) and "foul play is suspected" because of forensic evidence uncovered in her apartment. It's scary stuff.
It's easy to become a bit rattled when something terrible happens. One friend commiserated in response to a posting I made on facebook, and I quickly assured her that my neighborhood is a nice place to live, but added "bad things can happen in nice places", because they do, and they happen to nice people too.
About thirty years ago I read a book that made me think seriously about my attitude toward chance. God, pointed out the Rabbi Harold Kushner, (in his book "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People") does not operate like some cosmic vending machine. Every good thing we do does not function like a coin put into a vending machine which yields the desired treat. Sometimes evil people see unjustified rewards while kind, long suffering people experience nothing but misery. The crux of the matter is that life is not fair. The positive message in the book is that we can manage to be joyful anyway.
Joy, it seems, doesn't always result from having everything in life go our way. Joy also doesn't ensue because we are "in control" or because we have "all of the answers". Reading Kushner's book helped me to understand that peace was attainable in a world filled with randomness, because God, in giving everyone free will accepted that sometimes He had to stand back and let our existence unfold. I'm not saying that miracles don't happen, because I genuinely believe that they do. I guess my point is just that sometimes it's our turn to be touched by the miraculous, and sometimes it isn't. Tragedy is most often not a punishment, just as good fortune is most often not a reward.
God is not a gamester who plays out our lives like pieces on a chess board. I also don't believe that our lives are some foreordained jigsaw puzzle - destined to turn out in one specific way. Had that been God's intention he would not have given us the ability to choose.
Sometimes people of faith have trouble reconciling the role of chance in our lives, seemingly wanting to believe that our maker had so little faith in us that he handed us the proverbial jigsaw puzzle with each piece a perfect representation of every event in our lives. I grew aware of how prevalent this kind of thinking is (especially among the young) when I filled in teaching a Sunday school class of teenagers several years ago. I was shocked to note that they were so incredibly fatalistic, believing that their lives had been entirely mapped out in advance and that every tragedy that occurs is "God's will".
I argued against that point of view vehemently.
"So if I step off the curb as I walk home from Church today and I'm hit by a drunk diver and killed it's because God wants me to die?" I asked.
"Absolutely!" they all answered. "If you died it would be because God needed you and if it wasn't your time to die He would have intervened."
At that point I begged them all to spare me the platitudes of that sort if Todd or my sons died before me. I told them that I believed that an almighty God doesn't need our help in the hereafter. If anything, he needs our help here, where we walk and talk for all to see, but His existence is not always so immediately evident. I believe that I need my husband and my sons more here on this earth than a Heavenly Father could ever need them "on the other side". I don't think that this way of thinking proves me to be faithless, but that it in fact demonstrates just how much faith I actually possess. I don't need to believe that I have all of the answers and that every bit of agony I feel is tied up in "reason" to feel hopeful. I actually find it quite comforting to know just how much I don't know, and sanity saving to not be constantly searching for rational explanations in a world that sometimes simply doesn't make sense.
I believe that God, in His wisdom, made our ability to choose a Star Trek-ish "prime directive" that He himself tries not to interfere with, which is why sometimes He stands back and allows tragedies to occur. Sometimes the negative choices that others make will impact our lives negatively too. God doesn't take the life of a person killed by a drunk driver - the driver himself bears the responsibility for taking that life through his choices - first to over-indulge, and then to hop behind the wheel in that state.
So perhaps life is a whole lot more like a super-sized box of K'nex (which every parent of sons knows is the best building system ever!) than a boringly precise jigsaw puzzle. God gives us this wonderful gift of agency and says, "Do with it what you will." We get all the pieces, the wheels that turn and the motors and rotors and bars and connectors, and we get a book of pictures suggesting what can be created. However, ultimately we choose what we'll build.
I've thought about all of these things the past few days as the police have canvassed my neighborhood and searched for clues to clarify what happened to this missing woman. I had a passing negative thought that maybe my safe and pleasant neighborhood wasn't the greatest place to be anymore, but then I turned my own thoughts around and saw the positive aspects of the situation. First of all, I find myself feeling fortunate to live in an area where I don't see lines of police cars on an everyday basis. Secondly, I feel secure in the knowledge that while the police couldn't prevent the crime, they are doing everything they can to unravel this mystery and catch those responsible. I can accept that my neighborhood is a good place to be while still acknowledging the possibility that there are bad people around here at times, and that bad things will sometimes happen as a result of that.
Life is still good, even though there is always a chance that something scary might happen. And being me, I had to write a poem that explains the way I see this whole possibility that we need to embrace a certain amount of chance in our lives. After all, in life every single new day is a fresh chance to build something wonderful.
Chance: (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - March 23, 2013)
Within the steps of every dance
there has to be some room for chance.
The best trained feet can sometimes twist -
the chance for failure must exist.
Is this a reason not to try,
this chance that we will fall, not fly?
Within the purest, best lived life
there's bound to be a bit of strife -
and earnest am I in belief
that most of us don't earn our grief;
most hardships are but happenstance -
misfortunes that occur by chance.
Life sadly isn't very fair -
and yet this fact should not impair,
for when fate is the most unjust
is when we find the need to trust.
Some randomness must be embraced
as part of living life with grace.
Some things will happen without cause,
crimes will occur in spite of laws
and somehow I have always known
I'm shaped by choices not my own
when things that other people do
reverberate in my life too.
So though perhaps I had to fall
I will be glad I danced at all,
for through missed steps and muscles burned
I faltered, but my strength returned -
and with each fall, I must surmise
I had another chance to rise.
Monday, 25 March 2013
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Here's to Your Health! - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg
When it comes to health, most people seem to hold strong opinions.
I see a lot of evidence that suggests that many are losing faith in the pharmaceutical industry - perhaps scared off by those commercials we see on television for products that warn us that the side-effects may be worse than the condition the drug is supposed to cure. These people tend to put their faith solely in natural remedies, too often relying on their own cobbled together knowledge of vitamins and dietary supplements. I've also encountered those who are skeptics where all things natural are concerned, dismissing them entirely as unsubstantiated hooey.
I think both extremes are wrong, and I'll tell you why.
My husband has worked for, or with, the pharma industry for many years. I've seen the hoops that those in that industry jump through to bring their products to market. Years of scientific research go into producing prescription medications, followed by years of trials. For the most part, prescription and over the counter drugs are safe, if taken as directed. Those warnings we see on television are warnings of what MIGHT happen - it's not likely, but it's a remote possibility that they have the decency to alert you to.
Now, don't get huffy people - I am NOT pushing drugs here! All I'm saying is that they have their place, and that I, for one, am grateful that science has progressed to the point where many terrible diseases have been virtually wiped out in large portions of the world. I'm grateful that we have medications to stabilize serious conditions, to prolong lives and to ease suffering.
I know there are problems with our medical system in general. Hospitals are understaffed and mistakes occur. Doctors do very little to address prevention of illness and nutrition. I have had experiences with medical professionals who had no bedside manner whatsoever, but in spite of those times I'm appreciative of the medicines and facilities available to me.
Having said all of that, I also believe that many products sold in health food stores are beneficial. I exercise daily and I try eat healthy meals, but because I know there are times I fall off the diet bandwagon I take vitamins every day. I take a multivitamin, extra vitamin D in the winter when sunshine is scarce, and fish and flax oils for my skin, my hair and my chronically dry eyes. (My eye doctor actually recommended the flax oil, which goes to show that some members of the medical community are beginning to see that natural products and pharmaceuticals each have their place.)
For three years, while my sons were in high school I worked in a health food store. When I started there I had very little knowledge of that industry. When the store was quiet, (which it often was as the owner refused to advertise, and eventually had to close) I would study what I called "the big purple bible". It was a massive tome that provided a good overview of vitamins and supplements. I didn't just read it, I studied it - writing what each item was indicated for and memorizing as many facts as I could. Then, I listed all of the contraindications and possible side-effects of each one on the opposite side of the card. Any supplement that had any dangers associated with it, or any warnings about how it should be used or what it shouldn't be combined with got a sticky red dot affixed to the right hand corner.
Every day people would come into the store who told me that they had sworn off "big bad pharma" and hoped to cure all of their ills "naturally" because "nothing in the health food store was dangerous". So every day I would pull out my note cards and show them my red dots and explain to them that whether "natural" or pharmaceutical ALL remedies are based on chemistry and therefore potentially hazardous. I would urge those who intended to dose themselves liberally with supplements to seek the advice of a professional - a naturopath or a nutritionist before stocking up on natural remedies - but often my advice went unheeded. After all, they had "read about" health food wares, and thought they knew what they were after. Occasionally I had customers come back and scream blue murder because they had taken things that made them ill. A little knowledge can truly be a dangerous thing!
So I think my attitude toward health care is pretty balanced. I will continue to combine the best of both worlds to optimize my health and my quality of life. I will take vitamins and supplements as recommended by those who understand such things in order to prevent illness. But if I get ill anyway, I will see a doctor and avail myself of pharmaceuticals. I am grateful that both options are available to me.
People complain that Pharma wants our money, but having worked in the health food industry I can attest to the fact that the health food industry wants our money too. Nothing bigger than a thimble sized sample was ever given away in the store I worked at. But what my co-worker, like many in the health food sector did dole out, (and liberally!) was advice without benefit of any formal training on supplements that were sometimes little more than snake oil, without ever alerting the customer to potential dangers as a pharmacist is required to do by law.
So use good judgement everyone, and whether or not you come to the same conclusions that I have, here's to your health!!
Here's to Your Health - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (July '07)
Natural solutions
for every ill abound -
for all constitutions
quite easily they're found.
Tablets, tea or tonic
to cure whatever ails -
sickness - rare or chronic
whenever it prevails.
Satisfy your senses
with aromatic oils -
build up your defenses
and cure those stubborn boils.
Supplement your diet
with vitamins and greens.
Fiber? You should try it!
(You don't eat enough beans!)
Here's a good suggestion
if lentils don't agree -
enzymes aid digestion,
just take some and you'll see.
Cleanse it or shampoo it
with items on the shelf -
and if that doesn't do it,
detoxify yourself!
Take some echinachea
to build immunity -
or try ashwaganda
if you need energy.
Take some horny goatweed
if your libido's low -
brew some fenugreek seed
if you want hair to grow.
B's are sure to sooth you
when you're over-stressed;
St John's wort might improve you
if you become depressed.
Drink some chamomile tea
to help you get to sleep -
bilberry will help you see
and healthy eyesight keep.
Sweeten foods with honey -
use white sugar no more!
I'll help you spend your money
here at the health food store!
I see a lot of evidence that suggests that many are losing faith in the pharmaceutical industry - perhaps scared off by those commercials we see on television for products that warn us that the side-effects may be worse than the condition the drug is supposed to cure. These people tend to put their faith solely in natural remedies, too often relying on their own cobbled together knowledge of vitamins and dietary supplements. I've also encountered those who are skeptics where all things natural are concerned, dismissing them entirely as unsubstantiated hooey.
I think both extremes are wrong, and I'll tell you why.
My husband has worked for, or with, the pharma industry for many years. I've seen the hoops that those in that industry jump through to bring their products to market. Years of scientific research go into producing prescription medications, followed by years of trials. For the most part, prescription and over the counter drugs are safe, if taken as directed. Those warnings we see on television are warnings of what MIGHT happen - it's not likely, but it's a remote possibility that they have the decency to alert you to.
Now, don't get huffy people - I am NOT pushing drugs here! All I'm saying is that they have their place, and that I, for one, am grateful that science has progressed to the point where many terrible diseases have been virtually wiped out in large portions of the world. I'm grateful that we have medications to stabilize serious conditions, to prolong lives and to ease suffering.
I know there are problems with our medical system in general. Hospitals are understaffed and mistakes occur. Doctors do very little to address prevention of illness and nutrition. I have had experiences with medical professionals who had no bedside manner whatsoever, but in spite of those times I'm appreciative of the medicines and facilities available to me.
Having said all of that, I also believe that many products sold in health food stores are beneficial. I exercise daily and I try eat healthy meals, but because I know there are times I fall off the diet bandwagon I take vitamins every day. I take a multivitamin, extra vitamin D in the winter when sunshine is scarce, and fish and flax oils for my skin, my hair and my chronically dry eyes. (My eye doctor actually recommended the flax oil, which goes to show that some members of the medical community are beginning to see that natural products and pharmaceuticals each have their place.)
For three years, while my sons were in high school I worked in a health food store. When I started there I had very little knowledge of that industry. When the store was quiet, (which it often was as the owner refused to advertise, and eventually had to close) I would study what I called "the big purple bible". It was a massive tome that provided a good overview of vitamins and supplements. I didn't just read it, I studied it - writing what each item was indicated for and memorizing as many facts as I could. Then, I listed all of the contraindications and possible side-effects of each one on the opposite side of the card. Any supplement that had any dangers associated with it, or any warnings about how it should be used or what it shouldn't be combined with got a sticky red dot affixed to the right hand corner.
Every day people would come into the store who told me that they had sworn off "big bad pharma" and hoped to cure all of their ills "naturally" because "nothing in the health food store was dangerous". So every day I would pull out my note cards and show them my red dots and explain to them that whether "natural" or pharmaceutical ALL remedies are based on chemistry and therefore potentially hazardous. I would urge those who intended to dose themselves liberally with supplements to seek the advice of a professional - a naturopath or a nutritionist before stocking up on natural remedies - but often my advice went unheeded. After all, they had "read about" health food wares, and thought they knew what they were after. Occasionally I had customers come back and scream blue murder because they had taken things that made them ill. A little knowledge can truly be a dangerous thing!
So I think my attitude toward health care is pretty balanced. I will continue to combine the best of both worlds to optimize my health and my quality of life. I will take vitamins and supplements as recommended by those who understand such things in order to prevent illness. But if I get ill anyway, I will see a doctor and avail myself of pharmaceuticals. I am grateful that both options are available to me.
People complain that Pharma wants our money, but having worked in the health food industry I can attest to the fact that the health food industry wants our money too. Nothing bigger than a thimble sized sample was ever given away in the store I worked at. But what my co-worker, like many in the health food sector did dole out, (and liberally!) was advice without benefit of any formal training on supplements that were sometimes little more than snake oil, without ever alerting the customer to potential dangers as a pharmacist is required to do by law.
So use good judgement everyone, and whether or not you come to the same conclusions that I have, here's to your health!!
Here's to Your Health - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (July '07)
Natural solutions
for every ill abound -
for all constitutions
quite easily they're found.
Tablets, tea or tonic
to cure whatever ails -
sickness - rare or chronic
whenever it prevails.
Satisfy your senses
with aromatic oils -
build up your defenses
and cure those stubborn boils.
Supplement your diet
with vitamins and greens.
Fiber? You should try it!
(You don't eat enough beans!)
Here's a good suggestion
if lentils don't agree -
enzymes aid digestion,
just take some and you'll see.
Cleanse it or shampoo it
with items on the shelf -
and if that doesn't do it,
detoxify yourself!
Take some echinachea
to build immunity -
or try ashwaganda
if you need energy.
Take some horny goatweed
if your libido's low -
brew some fenugreek seed
if you want hair to grow.
B's are sure to sooth you
when you're over-stressed;
St John's wort might improve you
if you become depressed.
Drink some chamomile tea
to help you get to sleep -
bilberry will help you see
and healthy eyesight keep.
Sweeten foods with honey -
use white sugar no more!
I'll help you spend your money
here at the health food store!
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Confession: I Don't Like Everybody!
Okay - I know it's controversial, but I had to say it. I don't like everybody, and furthermore I'm actually okay with admitting that truth. And why not be? As I recall, the commandment given was that we "Love one another" - the word "like" didn't come into it at all.
Many years ago when I did my stint as a "Mormon" missionary I encountered a little girl who was reprimanded by her mother for saying she disliked another child. She responded with some words that have always stayed with me - words that seemed full of profound child-like wisdom -
"I love her in God's own way, Mama - I just don't like her one bit!"
Oh come on! We ALL know people we feel that way about. We all have neighbors and co-workers and maybe even family members that we just plain don't enjoy being around. We wish no ill upon these people, and for the most part we genuinely care about their well-being. Often, as odd as it may sound, we do love these people. We would help them in any way we could if they needed help, but that doesn't change the fact that being around them drives us a little crazy.
Human relationships are complicated to begin with, and we make them more so by putting unrealistic expectations on the people around us. We expect them to be "nice" - to be thoughtful and to not hurt our feelings. Jesus taught us to treat others as we wish to be treated, and so we assume that others will try to follow that admonition too. (We, of course, think that we behave well far more often than we actually do.) Add to that the fact that many never learned that scripture - (or they heard it once and promptly forgot it or wrote it off as "Christian mumbo-jumbo" that is irrelevant today), and we begin to see the problem with that assumption.
We also put impossible expectations on ourselves. We wonder why on earth we can't be like Will Rogers, who was lucky enough to be able to report "I never met a man I didn't like". (Really Will? I've met plenty of men - and women too - who were not likable in the least!) Sadly, I'm also aware that there are people out there who met me at inopportune moments or under circumstances that made me appear pretty impossible to like. Sometimes, odd as it seems (to me, at least!), I've managed to hurt/annoy/offend someone enough that they "unfriended me" in every sense of the word.
Each individual born on this earth has a unique personality, and some of those personalities rub us the wrong way. We need to try to remember that everyone out there was shaped by experiences and challenges we aren't aware of, and be forgiving when we encounter a person who isn't at their best. We are all hurt/annoyed/offended by different things, and yet we somehow still seem challenged by the concept that we should be consistently thoughtful and take the feelings of others into account.
We also need to accept the fact that some people will simply always be too dissimilar from us, and we might never learn to genuinely like them - which is okay as long as we can still be kind and care for them in "God's own way".
It is okay to love someone best from a distance, as long as we are continually working at being more tolerant toward them when we inevitably brush shoulders. If we are REALLY honest with ourselves, the thing we often dislike most about these people is that they bring out the worst in US....just something to think about as you read (and relate to) my latest poetic effort.
I Like You Not - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg - Feb. 13, 2013
In honesty, I like you not,
although I love you quite a lot,
so trust me when I say I care -
I love you when you're over there.
Just don't come closer, for I fear
I do not like you when you're here.
I do not like the things you say,
your thoughtless words drive me away,
your actions put me in a snit -
and yet I love you quite a bit.
I've no ill-will, I wish you well -
you prosper and I think that's swell.
Were you in need, I'd help you out,
of that I hope you have no doubt.
But though I wish you far away
you must believe me when I say
I love you, yes I do, my dear -
and love you best when you aren't near!
Many years ago when I did my stint as a "Mormon" missionary I encountered a little girl who was reprimanded by her mother for saying she disliked another child. She responded with some words that have always stayed with me - words that seemed full of profound child-like wisdom -
"I love her in God's own way, Mama - I just don't like her one bit!"
Oh come on! We ALL know people we feel that way about. We all have neighbors and co-workers and maybe even family members that we just plain don't enjoy being around. We wish no ill upon these people, and for the most part we genuinely care about their well-being. Often, as odd as it may sound, we do love these people. We would help them in any way we could if they needed help, but that doesn't change the fact that being around them drives us a little crazy.
Human relationships are complicated to begin with, and we make them more so by putting unrealistic expectations on the people around us. We expect them to be "nice" - to be thoughtful and to not hurt our feelings. Jesus taught us to treat others as we wish to be treated, and so we assume that others will try to follow that admonition too. (We, of course, think that we behave well far more often than we actually do.) Add to that the fact that many never learned that scripture - (or they heard it once and promptly forgot it or wrote it off as "Christian mumbo-jumbo" that is irrelevant today), and we begin to see the problem with that assumption.
We also put impossible expectations on ourselves. We wonder why on earth we can't be like Will Rogers, who was lucky enough to be able to report "I never met a man I didn't like". (Really Will? I've met plenty of men - and women too - who were not likable in the least!) Sadly, I'm also aware that there are people out there who met me at inopportune moments or under circumstances that made me appear pretty impossible to like. Sometimes, odd as it seems (to me, at least!), I've managed to hurt/annoy/offend someone enough that they "unfriended me" in every sense of the word.
Each individual born on this earth has a unique personality, and some of those personalities rub us the wrong way. We need to try to remember that everyone out there was shaped by experiences and challenges we aren't aware of, and be forgiving when we encounter a person who isn't at their best. We are all hurt/annoyed/offended by different things, and yet we somehow still seem challenged by the concept that we should be consistently thoughtful and take the feelings of others into account.
We also need to accept the fact that some people will simply always be too dissimilar from us, and we might never learn to genuinely like them - which is okay as long as we can still be kind and care for them in "God's own way".
It is okay to love someone best from a distance, as long as we are continually working at being more tolerant toward them when we inevitably brush shoulders. If we are REALLY honest with ourselves, the thing we often dislike most about these people is that they bring out the worst in US....just something to think about as you read (and relate to) my latest poetic effort.
I Like You Not - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg - Feb. 13, 2013
In honesty, I like you not,
although I love you quite a lot,
so trust me when I say I care -
I love you when you're over there.
Just don't come closer, for I fear
I do not like you when you're here.
I do not like the things you say,
your thoughtless words drive me away,
your actions put me in a snit -
and yet I love you quite a bit.
I've no ill-will, I wish you well -
you prosper and I think that's swell.
Were you in need, I'd help you out,
of that I hope you have no doubt.
But though I wish you far away
you must believe me when I say
I love you, yes I do, my dear -
and love you best when you aren't near!
Thursday, 17 January 2013
The Myth of Sufficiency - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg
It's interesting how a dream can start you pondering...
My sister had barely made the suggestion that my brother and I accompany her to a lecture with a fascinating title when I woke up. "The Myth of Sufficiency" - I thought upon waking - "what a fabulous title!" I actually felt more than a little disappointed that I hadn't been able to finish the dream by attending that lecture!
As a result, these past several days I've been asking people what they think is meant by "The Myth of Sufficiency". The answers I received were varied, but all of them included the theme that we human beings are never entirely satisfied. For the most part we seem almost hardwired to not embrace the idea that "sufficient" is good enough. We almost universally (from what I've observed) want that elusive "something more" out of life.
I don't think that's a bad thing. It would be easy to cross the fine line between being content and becoming complacent if we didn't allow ourselves to see where there is room for improvement in ourselves and our lives. Our reach should always slightly exceed our grasp when it comes to making life happier, healthier, more stimulating - better. This reaching is good for us.
However, one other theme raised its ugly little head repeatedly when I asked my question. It would seem that we humans are often perceived as greedy. Many times I heard people give voice to the notion that we always want more and better stuff.
I disagree with that sentiment on a personal level, but only within reason. Let's face it, no matter how well set we are in any one area where things are concerned, we are never really "set for life". Everything deteriorates, and to make blanket statements like "I'll never buy another car (or house)" or "I'm through with spending money on clothes" would be foolish. We just never know what the future will hand us. Circumstances change. Perhaps you'll lose weight and the clothes you wear now will all be floating on you in a year (a girl can dream!), or your car will crash and it will make more sense to replace it than to repair it. There's nothing wrong with wanting things within reason. But to be constantly grasping for "more and better stuff" is NOT healthy. It is this "constant craving" mentality that leaves us feeling frustrated and miserable.
At the extreme opposite end of the title definition spectrum were a few wise souls who came to the conclusion that there are those among us who never strive. These are the people who never put more than marginal effort into anything. They get a bit huffy when you ask for something more from them than the bare minimum. "It's good enough for me!" they are apt to respond when disappointment or disapproval is sensed. We all encounter these people. Sadly, many of us have gone through stages in our lives where we were of this minimalist mindset. Most of us realize (in time) that our lives are richer and happier when we challenge ourselves to do better and be better.
I have a feeling I've barely scratched the surface on this theme, and that there are plenty more poems I can (and will) write on this subject, but this is my first attempt.
The Myth of Sufficiency - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (January 16, 2013)
In culture rife with decadence
we value more than common cents -
success is weighed in goods obtained;
measured in fame and power gained
by those who tirelessly seek
to not be seen as poor or weak.
Consider lilies of the field -
they toil not and no riches yield,
and yet in beauty they outshine
all who are clad in raiments fine.
Can anyone be satisfied,
or must we seek what we're denied
while racing on this mortal track
crushed by the things we think we lack?
Unlike the fowls that fill the air
we're of deficiencies aware -
Concerns abound in every life;
all poor, or prosperous, know strife.
Each one of us in time will learn
for something more we'll always yearn,
and pondering upon our cares
will question ourselves unawares.
"What will I buy, or wear, or eat -
what do I need to feel complete?"
This truth perhaps will resonate:
Our neediness is human fate -
we barely satisfy one want
before another comes to taunt.
Insatiable we're doomed to be;
enslaved by insufficiency
until for final breath we gasp
our reach exceeding still our grasp.
My sister had barely made the suggestion that my brother and I accompany her to a lecture with a fascinating title when I woke up. "The Myth of Sufficiency" - I thought upon waking - "what a fabulous title!" I actually felt more than a little disappointed that I hadn't been able to finish the dream by attending that lecture!
As a result, these past several days I've been asking people what they think is meant by "The Myth of Sufficiency". The answers I received were varied, but all of them included the theme that we human beings are never entirely satisfied. For the most part we seem almost hardwired to not embrace the idea that "sufficient" is good enough. We almost universally (from what I've observed) want that elusive "something more" out of life.
I don't think that's a bad thing. It would be easy to cross the fine line between being content and becoming complacent if we didn't allow ourselves to see where there is room for improvement in ourselves and our lives. Our reach should always slightly exceed our grasp when it comes to making life happier, healthier, more stimulating - better. This reaching is good for us.
However, one other theme raised its ugly little head repeatedly when I asked my question. It would seem that we humans are often perceived as greedy. Many times I heard people give voice to the notion that we always want more and better stuff.
I disagree with that sentiment on a personal level, but only within reason. Let's face it, no matter how well set we are in any one area where things are concerned, we are never really "set for life". Everything deteriorates, and to make blanket statements like "I'll never buy another car (or house)" or "I'm through with spending money on clothes" would be foolish. We just never know what the future will hand us. Circumstances change. Perhaps you'll lose weight and the clothes you wear now will all be floating on you in a year (a girl can dream!), or your car will crash and it will make more sense to replace it than to repair it. There's nothing wrong with wanting things within reason. But to be constantly grasping for "more and better stuff" is NOT healthy. It is this "constant craving" mentality that leaves us feeling frustrated and miserable.
At the extreme opposite end of the title definition spectrum were a few wise souls who came to the conclusion that there are those among us who never strive. These are the people who never put more than marginal effort into anything. They get a bit huffy when you ask for something more from them than the bare minimum. "It's good enough for me!" they are apt to respond when disappointment or disapproval is sensed. We all encounter these people. Sadly, many of us have gone through stages in our lives where we were of this minimalist mindset. Most of us realize (in time) that our lives are richer and happier when we challenge ourselves to do better and be better.
I have a feeling I've barely scratched the surface on this theme, and that there are plenty more poems I can (and will) write on this subject, but this is my first attempt.
The Myth of Sufficiency - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (January 16, 2013)
In culture rife with decadence
we value more than common cents -
success is weighed in goods obtained;
measured in fame and power gained
by those who tirelessly seek
to not be seen as poor or weak.
Consider lilies of the field -
they toil not and no riches yield,
and yet in beauty they outshine
all who are clad in raiments fine.
Can anyone be satisfied,
or must we seek what we're denied
while racing on this mortal track
crushed by the things we think we lack?
Unlike the fowls that fill the air
we're of deficiencies aware -
Concerns abound in every life;
all poor, or prosperous, know strife.
Each one of us in time will learn
for something more we'll always yearn,
and pondering upon our cares
will question ourselves unawares.
"What will I buy, or wear, or eat -
what do I need to feel complete?"
This truth perhaps will resonate:
Our neediness is human fate -
we barely satisfy one want
before another comes to taunt.
Insatiable we're doomed to be;
enslaved by insufficiency
until for final breath we gasp
our reach exceeding still our grasp.
Monday, 31 December 2012
Gratitude - The Art of Appreciation - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg
Last night as I was heading off to bed I passed through my living room. The lights on my Christmas tree glowed off my hardwood floors, and I experienced a sudden surge of gratitude for my home.
"I love this house!" I said aloud, and not for the first time.
I'm ashamed to say that I didn't always feel that way. When we moved to Kitchener nine years ago we left a behind a house that oozed charm and character. It was the kind of house I always saw myself living in, whereas the house we purchased here wasn't "me" at all. (I still joke that this four level side split is very "Mike Brady", from its avocado ceramic entrance tiles to the metal railings down the staircases.) It didn't help that the previous owners had made some odd design decisions - like horrific floral embossed wallpaper and shag carpeting in shades of various bodily fluids. (And WHO, may I ask, puts a maroon carpet in a sun room?)
I viewed this house as a compromise. We could afford it, and over time make it resemble the more expensive house we'd liked better. We did make changes that improved the place considerably, but I still didn't love the house. That didn't happen until we'd been here a few years and I got news that good friends in Sudbury had their house burn to the ground days before Christmas. Suddenly the ingratitude I'd felt for my home hit me like a slap in the face. I quickly learned to appreciate what I had, and began to love my house.
Wouldn't the world be a happier, healthier place if we all could just learn to appreciate what we have, and to "love our own stuff best"? I'm not putting in a plug for crass materialism here, but appreciation for things is important. Having said that, I recognize that understanding the value of relationships is even more so. I'm happy to say that the love of my family is something I've never taken for granted.
Over the course of my life I've met a lot of wounded souls. People with sad stories to tell seem to seek me out. I've met people who have never been part of a loving family; people who have few friends and suffer from a dearth of love in their lives. I am grateful that my experience differs vastly from theirs. Every night, the last words I speak, and the last words I hear from my husband and sons are "I love you". I was thinking about that last night too, as that wave of gratitude washed over me. Then, as I brushed my teeth and washed my face I thought about how wonderful it is that I enjoy good health and can perform these little hygiene rituals for myself, unlike my wheelchair bound mother in law.
I reviewed all of my assets last night, and decided that my life was pretty amazing - happy family life, plenty of food in my fridge, good health, and even a nice house. Thankfully, somewhere along the line I've developed sufficient maturity and gratitude to appreciate all of it. May we all continue to perfect the art of gratitude over this coming year. Happy 2013 everyone!
Gratitude - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (April '09)
At end of day we ought to be
grateful for all we've gained -
for any wisdom we accrued
from questions now explained.
Did we notice just how many
little problems were worked out -
Or pause to give thanks for new hope
when faith replaced our doubt?
If at the close of one more day
some money has been earned,
and to the shelter of our home
all safely have returned;
if bedtime finds our stomachs full,
our bodies well and strong -
If we are healthy, loved and fed
for what else could we long?
If we've been given one more day
that's free of pain and grief -
or suffered some, but through a friend
found help, comfort; relief -
then we have reason to give thanks
for many fare far worse
and unlike us don't grumble so -
complain or whine or curse.
If we don't fear the violence
of life in war-torn lands,
or live under a tyrant's rule
where poverty expands -
then perhaps we've grown complacent
about all that we've got,
and wasted too much energy
pursuing what we've not.
If we took time to really see
how richly we are blessed -
I cannot help but think there'd be
more gratitude expressed.
"I love this house!" I said aloud, and not for the first time.
I'm ashamed to say that I didn't always feel that way. When we moved to Kitchener nine years ago we left a behind a house that oozed charm and character. It was the kind of house I always saw myself living in, whereas the house we purchased here wasn't "me" at all. (I still joke that this four level side split is very "Mike Brady", from its avocado ceramic entrance tiles to the metal railings down the staircases.) It didn't help that the previous owners had made some odd design decisions - like horrific floral embossed wallpaper and shag carpeting in shades of various bodily fluids. (And WHO, may I ask, puts a maroon carpet in a sun room?)
I viewed this house as a compromise. We could afford it, and over time make it resemble the more expensive house we'd liked better. We did make changes that improved the place considerably, but I still didn't love the house. That didn't happen until we'd been here a few years and I got news that good friends in Sudbury had their house burn to the ground days before Christmas. Suddenly the ingratitude I'd felt for my home hit me like a slap in the face. I quickly learned to appreciate what I had, and began to love my house.
Wouldn't the world be a happier, healthier place if we all could just learn to appreciate what we have, and to "love our own stuff best"? I'm not putting in a plug for crass materialism here, but appreciation for things is important. Having said that, I recognize that understanding the value of relationships is even more so. I'm happy to say that the love of my family is something I've never taken for granted.
Over the course of my life I've met a lot of wounded souls. People with sad stories to tell seem to seek me out. I've met people who have never been part of a loving family; people who have few friends and suffer from a dearth of love in their lives. I am grateful that my experience differs vastly from theirs. Every night, the last words I speak, and the last words I hear from my husband and sons are "I love you". I was thinking about that last night too, as that wave of gratitude washed over me. Then, as I brushed my teeth and washed my face I thought about how wonderful it is that I enjoy good health and can perform these little hygiene rituals for myself, unlike my wheelchair bound mother in law.
I reviewed all of my assets last night, and decided that my life was pretty amazing - happy family life, plenty of food in my fridge, good health, and even a nice house. Thankfully, somewhere along the line I've developed sufficient maturity and gratitude to appreciate all of it. May we all continue to perfect the art of gratitude over this coming year. Happy 2013 everyone!
Gratitude - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (April '09)
At end of day we ought to be
grateful for all we've gained -
for any wisdom we accrued
from questions now explained.
Did we notice just how many
little problems were worked out -
Or pause to give thanks for new hope
when faith replaced our doubt?
If at the close of one more day
some money has been earned,
and to the shelter of our home
all safely have returned;
if bedtime finds our stomachs full,
our bodies well and strong -
If we are healthy, loved and fed
for what else could we long?
If we've been given one more day
that's free of pain and grief -
or suffered some, but through a friend
found help, comfort; relief -
then we have reason to give thanks
for many fare far worse
and unlike us don't grumble so -
complain or whine or curse.
If we don't fear the violence
of life in war-torn lands,
or live under a tyrant's rule
where poverty expands -
then perhaps we've grown complacent
about all that we've got,
and wasted too much energy
pursuing what we've not.
If we took time to really see
how richly we are blessed -
I cannot help but think there'd be
more gratitude expressed.
Friday, 21 December 2012
An Invitation to a New Beginning
Today is "supposed" to be the end of the world, according to some. For most of us, though, it has been "business as usual" with the extra tasks of preparing for Christmas thrown in for good measure. I can't say I've given the doomsayers much thought this season, in part because my mind has been too much on endings and beginnings in my own household.
My older son, Sam, completed his course in Toronto in mid-October, and now he and I are both back under the family roof full time. I am re-establishing routines that were interrupted by my frequent back and forth trips to visit him at his apartment. It's more of an adjustment for our family than most would think.
I got very used to my first thought of the day being "Which city am I in?" and then deciding from there what my daily priorities should be. It was all a very "seat of the pants" kind of lifestyle, and while I learned a lot about myself through embracing constant change, I am struggling now to get back into a familiar groove.
Todd got used to living in a very quiet household. When you conduct much of your business at the dining room table it can be challenging to go from having the house to yourself to having two, and then three extra bodies milling about, eating breakfast and lunch at all different hours and turning on the microwave when you're expecting a conference call any second.
Sam grew accustomed to navigating "the big city" and seeing new sights and talking to peers who had common interests. I know he must find "K-town" and the family pretty boring these days. He's developed a new skill set, but isn't sure how or where to use it yet.
With Dan's return to the family fold on November 27th, we all had to begin again. People change over the course of two years, and we are all getting acclimatized to being a family of four, together under one roof again.
I can only be grateful that these changes all occurred as the Christmas season was approaching - a time when the emphasis is on giving. Thus each member of the family has made the requisite sacrifices of time (to decorate the trees), of money (to dress the literally poor RM in some decent attire) and personal convenience (like relocating from the dining room when the mixer or blender are required to prepare the usual holiday goodies) without complaint. The approaching holidays have been a lovely distraction from all of our individual re-orientation struggles.
Likewise, the holidays have cushioned me from any concern about an apocalyptic end occurring today. If it were to happen, I'd fare better than I would ordinarily by sheer timing. After all, it's Christmastime, and I'm on my best behavior. I'm thinking more about the wants and needs of those around me than usual - buying gifts, sharing treats and generally being more charitable than is my norm.
It looks like we're all here for a bit longer at this point, so I propose that we look at this Christmas season as being a new beginning in our lives. Perhaps this Christmas we can somehow manage to carry more of that charitable feeling with us into the new year. Perhaps we can demonstrate the gratitude we feel for having so much in a world where so few even have enough. We can hold our children closer for those who have recently lost theirs. We can offer a smile to the disheartened and an ear to the troubled. We can try in small ways to make the world a lighter, brighter, kinder and more buoyant place.
And perhaps more than anything, we can remember the importance of beginnings, and one beginning in particular. In the absence of raining fireballs let's try to remember one significant star, and the new life that it symbolized. Merry Christmas to all of you, and may the new year bring peace and happiness.
Angelic Invitation (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - October '06)
A new star sets the world alight illuminating earth -
A Savior has been born tonight, come celebrate His birth.
Good shepherds look ye to the sky and quake ye not in fear -
make haste to listen and draw nigh, glad tidings thou shalt hear.
Fear not the strange light ye behold - it beckons unto thee
to witness prophecies foretold, go follow it and see.
A holy child is born this night, He is the promised one -
who'll lead us into Heaven's light for He is God's own son!
Fear not to leave thy flocks behind - thy watch I'll surely keep,
while in a stable thou shalt find the tiny babe asleep.
Go bow before this king of kings, leave Him thy lambs most fair -
a gift most perfect of all things that thou dost have to share.
For someday He will shepherd all who yearn for pastures sweet -
He'll rescue mankind from the fall and sinners from defeat.
Go worship Him this holy night, bear witness to His birth -
Sing praise aloud with all thy might - God's son is born on earth!
Angelic voices, ever near, call us to join His fold
and heed the chorus, sweet and clear, they sang in times of old.
Come celebrate the holy birth of our triumphant Lord -
who brought salvation to the earth and innocence restored.
This invitation they extend to all the sons of men
'til all heads bow and all knees bend when Christ returns again.
He will lead on to victory hearts who grant Him a place -
and heed the call to come and see the wonders of His grace.
My older son, Sam, completed his course in Toronto in mid-October, and now he and I are both back under the family roof full time. I am re-establishing routines that were interrupted by my frequent back and forth trips to visit him at his apartment. It's more of an adjustment for our family than most would think.
I got very used to my first thought of the day being "Which city am I in?" and then deciding from there what my daily priorities should be. It was all a very "seat of the pants" kind of lifestyle, and while I learned a lot about myself through embracing constant change, I am struggling now to get back into a familiar groove.
Todd got used to living in a very quiet household. When you conduct much of your business at the dining room table it can be challenging to go from having the house to yourself to having two, and then three extra bodies milling about, eating breakfast and lunch at all different hours and turning on the microwave when you're expecting a conference call any second.
Sam grew accustomed to navigating "the big city" and seeing new sights and talking to peers who had common interests. I know he must find "K-town" and the family pretty boring these days. He's developed a new skill set, but isn't sure how or where to use it yet.
With Dan's return to the family fold on November 27th, we all had to begin again. People change over the course of two years, and we are all getting acclimatized to being a family of four, together under one roof again.
I can only be grateful that these changes all occurred as the Christmas season was approaching - a time when the emphasis is on giving. Thus each member of the family has made the requisite sacrifices of time (to decorate the trees), of money (to dress the literally poor RM in some decent attire) and personal convenience (like relocating from the dining room when the mixer or blender are required to prepare the usual holiday goodies) without complaint. The approaching holidays have been a lovely distraction from all of our individual re-orientation struggles.
Likewise, the holidays have cushioned me from any concern about an apocalyptic end occurring today. If it were to happen, I'd fare better than I would ordinarily by sheer timing. After all, it's Christmastime, and I'm on my best behavior. I'm thinking more about the wants and needs of those around me than usual - buying gifts, sharing treats and generally being more charitable than is my norm.
It looks like we're all here for a bit longer at this point, so I propose that we look at this Christmas season as being a new beginning in our lives. Perhaps this Christmas we can somehow manage to carry more of that charitable feeling with us into the new year. Perhaps we can demonstrate the gratitude we feel for having so much in a world where so few even have enough. We can hold our children closer for those who have recently lost theirs. We can offer a smile to the disheartened and an ear to the troubled. We can try in small ways to make the world a lighter, brighter, kinder and more buoyant place.
And perhaps more than anything, we can remember the importance of beginnings, and one beginning in particular. In the absence of raining fireballs let's try to remember one significant star, and the new life that it symbolized. Merry Christmas to all of you, and may the new year bring peace and happiness.
Angelic Invitation (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - October '06)
A new star sets the world alight illuminating earth -
A Savior has been born tonight, come celebrate His birth.
Good shepherds look ye to the sky and quake ye not in fear -
make haste to listen and draw nigh, glad tidings thou shalt hear.
Fear not the strange light ye behold - it beckons unto thee
to witness prophecies foretold, go follow it and see.
A holy child is born this night, He is the promised one -
who'll lead us into Heaven's light for He is God's own son!
Fear not to leave thy flocks behind - thy watch I'll surely keep,
while in a stable thou shalt find the tiny babe asleep.
Go bow before this king of kings, leave Him thy lambs most fair -
a gift most perfect of all things that thou dost have to share.
For someday He will shepherd all who yearn for pastures sweet -
He'll rescue mankind from the fall and sinners from defeat.
Go worship Him this holy night, bear witness to His birth -
Sing praise aloud with all thy might - God's son is born on earth!
Angelic voices, ever near, call us to join His fold
and heed the chorus, sweet and clear, they sang in times of old.
Come celebrate the holy birth of our triumphant Lord -
who brought salvation to the earth and innocence restored.
This invitation they extend to all the sons of men
'til all heads bow and all knees bend when Christ returns again.
He will lead on to victory hearts who grant Him a place -
and heed the call to come and see the wonders of His grace.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Scents and Sensibilility - By Sharon Flood Kasenberg
I noticed it again last night - the cloying smell of somebody's dryer sheets somehow making it's way into my hermetically sealed home. This, to me is an indication that said dryer sheets contain too much scent, but that's hardly news to me. Some days I can barely walk in my neighbourhood without wearing a clothespin.
Yes, my sniffer is a bit hyperactive. It not only itches and runs when perfumes proliferate, it kindly alerts my eyes, lips and ears that they should commence itching too. I can actually taste smells, and the sensation gives me a sore throat. Prolonged exposure gives me a head-ache, and once my eyes begin to water I'm in agony, as I have "Dry Eye Syndrome" and tears make my eyes burn and hurt. If I'm lucky, I can flee the scene of the stinky offense before the skin on my entire face begins to crawl.
There was a time, many moons ago, when I could manage a dab of perfume, but after my second son was born those days ended. I had to stop wearing perfumes, and told my husband to go easy on the aftershave.
I'm convinced there are a lot of people out there almost as "scent-sitive" as I am. Scent free zones are popping up in churches and auditoriums, and unscented products are at long last becoming easier to find. I am grateful that this is the case, and my nose thanks those who have spearheaded these initiatives. Still, society has a long way to go before it begins to grasp the potential problems of an overly scented planet. Personally, I find it hard to comprehend how so few people grasp that there are already abundant scents in nature without adding scented everything into the mix.
Think about it. Most of us shower with soap that has a smell, and then apply deodorant that has a smell (even if it says it doesn't) and some of us are wise enough to stop there. I'm pretty confident that except for those post-treadmill and pre-shower moments in my life I manage to not stink up any room that I'm in. I look for the most gentle scents available in household cleaning products and still my house smells clean - no need for scented candles or air-fresheners. In fact, I would go so far as to opine that layers of perfume in our environment are REALLY bad for us. Everyone seems to have allergies now, and more and more people seem to be developing asthma and similar lung conditions.
"But it's just a little perfume" you might be arguing at this point. I'm sure that's what the managers of Pier One, The Linen Chest, and all those other stores that I (and a whole raft of other people I know) avoid as much as possible think too, but in reality their "incense-sitivity" keeps an entire segment of potential buyers from shopping there. I have gone into those "scented" stores on occasion to see sales clerks gasping for air. Tell me those people aren't having their health compromised on a daily basis!
"But this is a NATURAL scent!" people argue when I tell them I have a hard time with smells. Sorry, but if it came out of a bottle it's more processed than "natural". And even if it is attar hand-wrung from rose petals it may still manage to drive me wild. Last spring I brought a sprig of lilac into my kitchen, and three hours later it was driving me so insane that I had to dispose of it by putting it on the compost heap in the back yard.
I know I won't change the minds of the truly scent addicted out there, but for those of you who wonder why I don't ever use the scented candles you give me, this may be informative. Please people, be scent sensible, and understand that there is a whole sector of society that suffer from scent sensitivities on a constant basis.
And with that thought in mind, I grace you with my latest poetic offering.
De-Scentsitized: (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - Novenber 17th, 2012)
Repent, repent, all ye who scent!
Assail my nose no more.
I must pick bone, with your cologne-
it's too strong to ignore.
My nose doth twitch, my ears they itch -
my eyes they pour like rain.
My lungs, they burn - for air they yearn
from scent you should abstain.
I shouldn't grouse, but oh - your house!
I dare not step inside.
Your potpourri is killing me!
(What DO you have to hide?)
With candles lit strong fumes emit
to toxify the air -
still you can't grasp how much I gasp
from what is burning there.
Can you not see I'd rather be
waist deep in cow manure
than have to greet scents cloyed and sweet
you force me to endure?
If to sweet smells my soul impels
I'll go and sniff a rose,
or maybe bake a chocolate cake
to satisfy my nose.
Yes, my sniffer is a bit hyperactive. It not only itches and runs when perfumes proliferate, it kindly alerts my eyes, lips and ears that they should commence itching too. I can actually taste smells, and the sensation gives me a sore throat. Prolonged exposure gives me a head-ache, and once my eyes begin to water I'm in agony, as I have "Dry Eye Syndrome" and tears make my eyes burn and hurt. If I'm lucky, I can flee the scene of the stinky offense before the skin on my entire face begins to crawl.
There was a time, many moons ago, when I could manage a dab of perfume, but after my second son was born those days ended. I had to stop wearing perfumes, and told my husband to go easy on the aftershave.
I'm convinced there are a lot of people out there almost as "scent-sitive" as I am. Scent free zones are popping up in churches and auditoriums, and unscented products are at long last becoming easier to find. I am grateful that this is the case, and my nose thanks those who have spearheaded these initiatives. Still, society has a long way to go before it begins to grasp the potential problems of an overly scented planet. Personally, I find it hard to comprehend how so few people grasp that there are already abundant scents in nature without adding scented everything into the mix.
Think about it. Most of us shower with soap that has a smell, and then apply deodorant that has a smell (even if it says it doesn't) and some of us are wise enough to stop there. I'm pretty confident that except for those post-treadmill and pre-shower moments in my life I manage to not stink up any room that I'm in. I look for the most gentle scents available in household cleaning products and still my house smells clean - no need for scented candles or air-fresheners. In fact, I would go so far as to opine that layers of perfume in our environment are REALLY bad for us. Everyone seems to have allergies now, and more and more people seem to be developing asthma and similar lung conditions.
"But it's just a little perfume" you might be arguing at this point. I'm sure that's what the managers of Pier One, The Linen Chest, and all those other stores that I (and a whole raft of other people I know) avoid as much as possible think too, but in reality their "incense-sitivity" keeps an entire segment of potential buyers from shopping there. I have gone into those "scented" stores on occasion to see sales clerks gasping for air. Tell me those people aren't having their health compromised on a daily basis!
"But this is a NATURAL scent!" people argue when I tell them I have a hard time with smells. Sorry, but if it came out of a bottle it's more processed than "natural". And even if it is attar hand-wrung from rose petals it may still manage to drive me wild. Last spring I brought a sprig of lilac into my kitchen, and three hours later it was driving me so insane that I had to dispose of it by putting it on the compost heap in the back yard.
I know I won't change the minds of the truly scent addicted out there, but for those of you who wonder why I don't ever use the scented candles you give me, this may be informative. Please people, be scent sensible, and understand that there is a whole sector of society that suffer from scent sensitivities on a constant basis.
And with that thought in mind, I grace you with my latest poetic offering.
De-Scentsitized: (By Sharon Flood Kasenberg - Novenber 17th, 2012)
Repent, repent, all ye who scent!
Assail my nose no more.
I must pick bone, with your cologne-
it's too strong to ignore.
My nose doth twitch, my ears they itch -
my eyes they pour like rain.
My lungs, they burn - for air they yearn
from scent you should abstain.
I shouldn't grouse, but oh - your house!
I dare not step inside.
Your potpourri is killing me!
(What DO you have to hide?)
With candles lit strong fumes emit
to toxify the air -
still you can't grasp how much I gasp
from what is burning there.
Can you not see I'd rather be
waist deep in cow manure
than have to greet scents cloyed and sweet
you force me to endure?
If to sweet smells my soul impels
I'll go and sniff a rose,
or maybe bake a chocolate cake
to satisfy my nose.
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