How I became a daylily by the train tracks

I don’t know how it happened.
I was called golden and felt soft
but after awhile, the hits came harder
and I felt leaden and heavy.
Big ideas ruled when I was younger,
-like heaven and the circus and flight-
whereas now I see the value in
what I can touch and see and hear,
how a few bites of bread and a song can be
enough. More than enough when shared.
I don’t remember laughing much
when my brain got in the way
for far too long
but my smile now is pure and unfiltered
as I have learned transience of things;
not everything is a trial or conspiracy
but there are days where joy is hard-won.
Then, it was how grand the sky;
now: how utterly grand the sky!