Carpe Diem

Live while you live.  Pursue

the day in all its dimensions,

its colors, its sounds, gather

the moments like flowers

in autumn.



Live while you live.  Study

the song of a white-crowned sparrow,

the graceful dance of a tree,

the rap music of the rain.



Live while you live.  Explore

the highways of the mind, learn

new things, listen to the silent

words of the Spirit, rebuild

broken dreams.



Live while you live.  Stretch

out the hands of your heart, one

for the hand of your Creator, one

for the hand of your neighbor,

and loving both, live

while you live.



--Marilyn Black Phemister



Copyright 1997 by Marilyn Black Phemister