The Search
Today I set off
on a long, long journey
to find something beautiful
in this artificial world
Yesterday I knew
no beauty surrounded me;
that this is my mission
Today I left
with a small duffel bag
and money to carry me through
I had no idea
where wandering paths would take me
how long I must search
to strip ugly from my view
Today I stepped away
from the safety of the road,
into the undergrowth
The woods stretched out before me,
a mountain up ahead,
I looked for days, weeks, months-
I wasn't counting
There were no beautiful scenes to see
just an endless tangle of vines
that I had to cut out of my way
I huffed and puffed
to the mountain's summit
exhausted, no adrenaline left,
trees obstructed my view
on every single side
Today I felt like giving up,
but there were more places to see
Perhaps beauty would find me soon
Today I walked
across the flat, boring prairie,
looking for something beautiful
to arise out of the ground
But the prairie rolled on,
flat and boring, endless
Today I tried something new
I left nature and went
to the bright lights of a city
hoping I would find beauty
within all the excitement
Today I saw oceans of people,
rude people
My eyes hurt from all the bling
My wallet was empty
from all the expenses
So finally,
Today I headed home,
until suddenly I pulled off
the traffic-jammed interstate
I realized
Today I found beauty
in the life around me
Each step into the undergrowth,
each pesky vine,
each blade of grass.
each person's face
contained all the beauty the world needs
And then-
Today I realized
I have no need to search for beauty
because I carry it everywhere I go
within me
- LAILA N.
61