Saved by the Beauty of the World

At a house party, decades ago,

many of us danced.

I inserted a cd of what was then a newer blues recording.

One of the women looked at me

and said,

“I like the blues alright,  but it’s all the same beat.”

Something in my head and heart snapped a little bit, 

but given that this was mainly a group of my fellow graduate social work students,

I knew I’d better keep my cool.

I merely responded, 

“I don’t understand your point”

So she reiterated, “It’s all the same beat!”

I then said, and I’d be happy today to even wear the T shirt — 

“But it’s the right beat!”

Last night during a wonderful movie about Mary Oliver there were comments about a frequent dismissive criticism of her work.

That was that once you’ve read one of her poems,  you’ve read them all. 

That is the message is all the same. 

Ok.

But it’s the right message.