Plain (I'm Telling You)

Plain
but warm-hearted to the core
I'm telling you
my palms will grow trees
eventually

Smiling
in a self-mocking way
I'm telling you
Hope is raising off
the earth
like heat off
sun-baked
pavement

Up and up and
up

Peering
up from the tree house
you still might squint your eyes in disbelief
But I'm telling you
Life is s gift
strong as a ship
of steel
and has just knocked me off my
feet.
How lovely
this defeat.