Manna by Joseph Stroud

 
Everywhere, everywhere, snow sifting down,
a world becoming white, no more sounds,
no longer possible to find the heart of the day,
the sun is gone, the sky is nowhere, and of all
I wanted in life – so be it – whatever it is
that brought me here, chance, fortune, whatever
blessing each flake of snow is the hint of, I am
grateful, I bear witness, I hold out my arms,
palms up, I know it is impossible to hold
for long what we love of the world, but look
at me, is it foolish, shameful, arrogant to say this,
see how the snow drifts down, look how happy 
I am.
Manna

Perhaps because we are in the heart of winter, this poem appeals to me. In those opening lines I can both see and feel - snow sifting down, / a world becoming white as the sun and sky disappear in the soundless space, everywhere. 

As the poet contemplates all / I wanted in life, and what has brought him to this moment, whatever / blessing each flake of snow is the hint of, I am captivated by the idea that each unique flake of snow holds a blessing - such an abundance! And he is grateful for all this, wants to bear witness as he holds out his arms palms up as one might do to catch falling snowflakes.

But, he tells us, I know it is impossible to hold / for long what we love of the world, that longing we have to hold onto all that we love, knowing we cannot keep it forever. And yet, look / at me; he wants us to know how happy he is as the snow drifts down even if he is foolish, shameful, arrogant to say it.

I can feel my own gratitude as I contemplate the blessings of being in this life, as numerous as all those flakes of snow that may at this very moment be falling in your world (or not). Regardless, can you say: look how happy / I am without feeling arrogant or shameful or foolish, simply thankful?