The Greatest of These

—1 Corinthians 13

Embraces the woman whose child screams

on the floor of the cereal aisle.

Enters the friend's new mansion,

lifts eyes to the skylights, gives thanks.

Yields the last word on the Facebook fight.

Looks the frowning barista in the eye.

Takes a breath and thanks God

there is even a zipper to get stuck.

Sends a gift to the wall-punching uncle.

Glances away from the handcuffed boys

on the side of the road and prays.

Smiles and listens to the grandmother complain

about her knees, rubs the knees,

ladles another bowl of soup.

Believes there is a reason that slumped man

in the alley was born. Trusts he'll believe it.

Endures the quiet, thankless song of work.

Echoes long after the cymbals have died.

~Tania Runyan