From 16Guidelines

Point of View - a poem about a book on medicinal plants

A book on plants, a simple thing,
it sits right next to me.
You'd think on what it really is
we'd easily agree.

But like so many bigger things
we don't all see the same,
all those who describe the book
may choose a different name.

This book is called 'a mountain' to 
an ant upon the ground.
Doc Jo might say it's 'medicine'
to cure a snake-bit hound.

While bugs might think the book is food,
or I might read an hour,
my dad would use it as a tool
to press a special flower.

You may think of what it was,
while it was still a tree, 
or what it is right now today
or what will someday be.

So is it tree or cure or food?
What's real about his book?
To find out what it really is
where must I start to look?

If I tear pages from inside
and tear off half the back
at just what point is 'bookness' gone
and what will bring it back?

Am I the only one to judge
what's real in what I see?
or can I pause and take a breath
or maybe two or three?

For if I practice patience now,
not rushing to my view,
I may just learn another has
a point that's also true.

When many minds are sharing thoughts
ideas get much stronger.
Then what we know won't just depend
on one source any longer. 

So tell me what the world is like
from where you are today
and if I do the same for you
we'll both know more that way.

And if we ask some others who
are from another place
we'll gain another piece of truth
with each new voice and face.

So keep your patience ready
as you name what fills your view.
The truth comes unassembled
and the rest is up to you!

Denise Flora with Wendy Ridley Nov 2007