Poetry Friday: "Be Kind" by Michael Blumenthal (and a story about peanut butter toast)

Sometimes it's hard to feel kind these days. But I keep reminding myself that even in our tumultuous country and climate, kindness is worth holding onto. 

I remember when Atticus was in the hospital a few years ago for his cancer surgery. A couple of days after the surgery, I ordered his breakfast. A few minutes later, the kitchen called his room. 

"You ordered the peanut butter toast for your husband, right?" She sounded young. And kind. 

"Yes, that's right." 

"Okay, I wanted to ask you a question. Does he like the peanut butter on the side, to put on the toast later? Or does he like it on the toast right away? Because, you know, some people like the peanut butter to get all melty, and I just want to make sure it's the way he likes it." 

I had to sit down. "He likes the peanut butter melty," I said. I took a breath. "He, um — thank you. Thank you for thinking of that." 

"Oh, it's no problem! Like I said, I just wanna make sure I fix it the way he likes it!" I could hear her smile. 

I hung up. I looked at the phone. I looked at my husband. He was asleep, recovering, moving forward one step at a time. I thought about a young woman in the kitchen, just doing her job, but doing it to perfection. Caring enough about a stranger to pick up the phone and ask about toast. 

There are such people in the world. Oh, such people!

The Peanut Butter Toast Girl, who still makes me cry.

Be Kind

by Michael Blumenthal

Not merely because Henry James said
there were but four rules of life—
be kind be kind be kind be kind—but
because it's good for the soul, and,
what's more, for others, it may be
that kindness is our best audition
for a worthier world, and, despite
the vagueness and uncertainty of
its recompense, a bird may yet wander
into a bush before our very houses,

....

(Read the rest here, at Poets.org.)

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Heidi Mordhorst has the Poetry Friday round-up this week at My Juicy Little Universe. 

Photo courtesy of Shutterbug75 at Pixabay.