James Crews: We Are Constellations

for Naomi Shihab Nye and all Palestinians

So much coexists in the heart’s container,
as in a carved teak bowl on the table.
See how the apple, pomegranate and tomato
share the same space, similar in color
but distinct. They do not fight, they do not
seethe and tease each other. They do not cause
unjust wars. They become a constellation,
as we humans do too, moving through our days
in shapes of contrast and difference—
as sour-sweet as the pomegranate seed,
as savory as a salted slice of beefsteak tomato,
as bright as the flesh of a honeycrisp,
all placed together in the same small bowl.

Copyright 2024 James Crews

James Crews’s recent books include a poetry anthology The Wonder of Small Things and a collection of prose Kindness Will Save the World: Stories of Compassion and Connection. As a professional speaker, reader, and workshop leader, he has touched audiences all over the world with his message of healing and hope through the power of writing.