Will it make the world a better place
to watch the clouds float smoothly by,
or gaze into the wide expanse of space
to count the stars within the sky?
Will it matter if I write these words,
or paint, or sculpt my thoughts in clay;
classify the cheering calls of birds,
or close my eyes, listen and sway.

Did you really think that sitting still
would bring the world more quiet peace?
Forest bathing measure out goodwill?
Or morning sunshine joy release?
If you did, I’ll tell you where you stand,
you’ve made the world not one bit worse,
for while you’re nothing but a fleck of sand,
you also are the universe.

It’s important to feed the hungry,
and it’s key that we lift the poor.
Still, as much as we all thirst for water,
humanity’s thirsting for so much more.
_______

Copyright 2025 M. Ryan Taylor

Note: Do you ever feel like what you do isn’t important enough? That you ought to be digging wells in Africa, or some such thing? There’s a part of me that longs for that kind of adventure, but there’s another part of me that feels called to other things.

Photo: Alessandro Cavestro on Unsplash

Post filed under All UkulelePlay! Blog Posts.