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Thoughts at 2:30 a.m.

When does a day begin?

Does it begin with the kiss of dawn?

Or with the toasting of bread

and the first sip of drink?

Or is it with the sounding

of the window-sill bird,

or the crackling stretch, perhaps,

of arms reaching high?

In this now

of stillness, of silence,

of fasting, of dark,

I consider

that a day begins

when the eyes of my heart

open

to the responsibility of seeing

both what is

and what can be—

when the hands of my heart

open

to the responsibility of loosening

whatever clips, restrains, restricts

the Spirit;

and the responsibility of embracing,

holding fast, pointing toward

that which is good.

I think, then, that maybe

my day is beginning

to begin

even now.

(Beth Beall)

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