A collection of poetry. Instead Strolling along these serene, grassy banks I bow my head in wondrous, grateful thanks For these peaceful, still-moments of grace From life's hard and rancorous footrace Where hard knocks follow closely on my heels And the devil slides up offering his cunning deals I realize there are few who care about my pain But walking here I appreciate this day's gentle rain It's not that I don't see the mud below the flowers Or know that life is quickly ticking away my hours I see the vultures circling in the clouds overhead I just choose to focus on this moment's beauty instead