Poetry

How to Become a Saint When You’re Not a Perfectionist

Try imagining
That it’s God’s work
And not yours

Instead of making
A list,
As others do,
Try unmaking one

Be encouraged:
Past performance
Does not necessarily
Predict future results

Still, the would-be faithful
Of every tribe, tongue
And income bracket
Have truly learned
That results may vary

Instead of always examining
Your own heart
Try tracing
The condensation trail
A jet has left
Across the sky

Maybe that’s not
A very good example
But I think you
Get the idea

It could have been a robin
Patiently pecking at
A wet patch of earth