WHAT DESERVES AN ODE?

A dying soul, yes.

Grief, of course.

Love, always.

But also—

An orange in the fruit bowl.  A simple garden snail.  A rebellious football scarf.  An ECG machine quietly insisting you’re still here.

I first found my way to poetry when I was thirteen. Now, as I inch towards retirement, I find myself returning to it with a little more time, and perhaps a little more to say. I have always been a very literal thinker, but also someone who tries to step into other people's shoes.

An ode is a formal, lyrical poem written to celebrate,   praise, or reflect  on a person, object, idea, or event. An ode, to me, is a way of noticing what often gets missed, of taking the time to step outside ourselves for a moment and appreciate something new.