my power to heal

originally posted August 29, 2006
On my morning run I spied a dead bird ahead, on the side of the gravel road, yellow and brown wings folded tight at its sides. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing its tiny beak and flat, dry little eyes. When I got closer I saw that it was but a fallen leaf curled upon itself. Driving back from work later, I saw in the near distance the crumpled, water-logged body of a raccoon or woodchuck in the road. Its pink guts mashed, fur absent of luster, hindquarters repeatedly run over. As I veered to the right, I saw that it was just an old wet red-and-blue sweater. Right then, I decided I wouldn’t go home but instead drive toward all the local cemeteries and roadside memorials to see what I could do. Who knows how long this would last.