this photographer is
a prospector––
surveying for gold
in this dusty world
this is not the
fool’s gold of
ego or the sleepy
blocks of gold in
guarded vaults––
this is the gold that
paves the streets
of heaven––
& he finds it
in a proud, drunk old
lady exploring her face
in a mirror––
or in the gestures of
a road crew repairing
a crumbling bridge
he is a gangly santa man
of earth––
& he’s teaching
humanity how
to open the
eyes of their
hearts & feel
the miracle
that energizes every
atom––
the greatest gift
in the universe
is laughter