WITHIN A SIMPLE THISTLE'S THORN

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Copper Bowl)

Even within a simple thistle’s thorn,

The life retains its everlasting meaning.

For into this wide world you have been born,

Do not complain about your fate or leaning.

Because the simplest words that we may speak,

In time reveal a wisdom grand and high.

The grass at dusk lies dry, and dark, and meek,

But morning dews descend from out the sky.

"A thorn, O poet? – you may start to chide –

Can't you perceive? The donkey eats it whole!

Would you connect the human fates and tide,

With things that no one permits in their soul?"

I do permit, but who will understand!…

Let me catch up with my poetic thought.

A simple thorn connects across the land

With the "Hosanna" that the scriptures taught.

Upon the donkey – noble, loved and blessed –

The Savior passed along His earthly way.

Jerusalem with Holy Spirit dressed,

Shone like Eden Garden on that day.

But how to bear a Sacrifice so deep,

Prepared to love the world until the cross?

The donkey ate its breakfast before sleep.

The glorious beast ate thorns without a loss.

And even God's own Crown upon the tree –

Was paid for with a wreath of thorns and pain.

What wiser, more brilliant lesson can there be

For our troubled nature to sustain?

To be or not? Not what you used to be…

A classic writer wrote this truth sublime.

Even within a simple thistle, see –

The life has hidden wisdom for all time.