Made by the wife of a dear friend and brother of mine,
the pen was just one shade
of the many rainbows she carries in her purse.
Not what one might consider a manly pen,
its slender body is topped with three beads
of various green hues
the first a bead covered in lime rhinestones,
the second a solid chrome sphere,
and the third a translucent pea-green
with light ridges ribbing it like a beach ball.
Only five dollars,
it was an easy price for the curious questions it would attract
along with the usual confused, but genuinely interested,
so why do you have a notebook at the bar?
(Inspiration hits anywhere,
so I want to be able to capture it anywhere,
and it makes a great conversation starter
for an introvert like me)
Really, it’s just plain fun!
A chance to do something a little different,
and when the questions come, it’s an opportunity
to redirect the inquiring mind, sober or not,
back to her, where hopefully
she’ll be able to sell more of the product
she puts so much time into making.
Most of all, though,
it was good to see how uplifted she was.
My friend, her husband,
would later thank me profusely
for how happy it made her
after carrying around these pens for so long,
gratitude that in turn uplifted my heart.
After all, how joyful is it
to see others enjoy what we have created?
Its these little gifts of love
passed back and forth
that could mean the world
and be the difference
between a good and bad day.
If only the world itself
could embrace this truth,
how much better of a place
could we make it into?