Finding the Awe

"Awe means stopping and noticing"

we walked for miles
without opening our eyes—
pacing habitual steps
without pausing
without thinking
without tasting
the breath of spring on the air
or hearing the city’s song,
until I tripped.

as my footsteps faltered
I looked
and a daffodil laughed up at me
her face turned
to the cloudless blue of the sky
and I remembered
and paused
and sat down on the sidewalk
to examine the wonder
a sunbeam—
I hadn’t felt one for so long.

but when I turned to him,
to share the sun
he didn’t see me.
he walked his habitual steps
eyes screwed shut.

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