Patience

PATIENCE

H. W. Bryce

Troubled by the hurt that life brought into my life,

I went for a drive. I know, I shouldn’t drive while

Under the influence of anger and strife. But I did.

I found myself out of town. The beautiful trees and

The skyscape began to take the edge off. I stopped

Trembling; my teeth became unclenched. I slowed down.

So far, so good. I began noticing things. I noticed an exit.

I took it. It took me to a lakeside, beside the mouth of a

River. I parked. I stared. And as my nerves stopped

Tingling, I scanned and scoped the landscape. It was then

That I spotted the heron. I didn’t see it at first; it was

Standing stock still, half blended with the grasses and

Reeds. I focussed. I made out his colours. I saw what

He was doing. All was still. Even my heart. A new start.

That’s it! My Eureka moment. A lesson about to be learned.

Be as patient as a heron. Just don’t reduce to staring.

The drive back home was actually enjoyable. So that was

The lesson for my life: Patience! There’s a reason that

They say patience is a virtue: good things come to those who wait.

Painting by J Deaton