"Aimless Love" by Billy Collins

A good writer must have a solid appreciation of others' writings, and I personally love poetry. I took a poetry appreciation course as an elective in college and this poem was my favorite of all the poems we studied. 

Firstly, I want to be sure to acknowledge that this poem is the work of Billy Collins, and here is a citation of the website from which I borrowed this poem: 

Collins, B. (2002, February). Aimless love by Billy Collins. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=41392

I like this poem because, when read with an air of melancholy contentment, gives me an appreciation for all the little things in my daily life with which God has blessed me. Though this poem does not mention God specifically, remember as you read it that He alone provides us with every blessing, both great and small. Open your eyes today to see His blessings <3

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This morning as I walked along the lakeshore,

I fell in love with a wren

and later in the day with a mouse

the cat had dropped under the dining room table.

 

In the shadows of an autumn evening,

I fell for a seamstress

still at her machine in the tailor’s window,

and later for a bowl of broth,

steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.

 

This is the best kind of love, I thought,

without recompense, without gifts,

or unkind words, without suspicion,

or silence on the telephone.

 

The love of the chestnut,

the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.

 

No lust, no slam of the door –

the love of the miniature orange tree,

the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower,

the highway that cuts across Florida.

 

No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –

just a twinge every now and then

 

for the wren who had built her nest

on a low branch overhanging the water

and for the dead mouse,

still dressed in its light brown suit.

 

But my heart is always propped up

in a field on its tripod,

ready for the next arrow.

 

After I carried the mouse by the tail

to a pile of leaves in the woods,

I found myself standing at the bathroom sink

gazing down affectionately at the soap,

 

so patient and soluble,

so at home in its pale green soap dish.

I could feel myself falling again

as I felt its turning in my wet hands

and caught the scent of lavender and stone.

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Romans 11:33-36 are wonderful verses to remember as we praise God for every blessing: 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

    How unsearchable his judgments,

    and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

    Or who has been his counselor?”

“Who has ever given to God,

    that God should repay them?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things.

    To him be the glory forever! Amen.