Perfection’s Undoing

How much time do you spend trying to make your life perfect?

“The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.”(George Will)

I rode my bike on this crisp South Florida morning around our new condo complex looking for the perfect place to rest. I settled for a park bench on a gently rising ridge overlooking an old oak tree strand. But then after a few minutes sitting there, it occurred to me that I enjoyed looking at this habitat’s imperfections as some trees stood  flimsily crooked and others lay seasonally dead. Taking wild nature’s cue on this matter then, I wrote the following poem.

PERFECTION’S UNDOING

I gaze upward nightly in awe of magical cosmic dust

 

But often fail to notice steady neighbors I can trust.

 

I descend far below to fear earth shaking heat

 

But miss kicking fires out just under my feet

 

I look back to mimic time’s eventful chains  
                                  

But rarely gather up human losses or gains 

 

I feel passion ahead hoping future utopia arises 

 

But ignore subtle smiles as intrinsic prizes

 

Stop trying to struggle surpassing the status quo

 

Let inner peace grow to enjoy life’s flow