Ambiguity

Gentle breezes ruffle leaves and
cause tree limbs to sway to the
rhythm of unheard melodies.

I dip my cup into the sparkling
water of the river, moving 
water; ever changing 
flow.  And the river
goes on.

As soon as I capture a piece
of billowing white cloud
in my jar, it vanishes.
Disappears.  Returns 
to its origins.

Peace unprotected turns
to chaos.  Love, untended, becomes
indifference.  Hope, washed daily
in the dirty waters of
greed and power,
begins to doubt.

Life is so elusive.
Capture the wind?
Possess the river?
Contain the cloud?
Foolishness.

But, I can be peace
I can be love
I can be hope

The ephemeral and the eternal,
and I stand between the two,
cup in one hand,
heart in the other.