Daron Larson: "Recognition"

It is so difficult to see this flower *

because the countless others
we’ve seen before
cloud the view,
along with how we expect it to look
and how it might be improved.

Even the faces of the ones we love deeply
hide like buried treasure
behind histories of expression.

In order to see
what is right in front of our eyes,
we first have to recognize
we have gradually
become blind,
and then begin
the slow work of forgetting.

* Substitute with any noun: beach, stone, bird, soap bubble, house, grandmother, beef stew, homeless person, celebrity, potato, dollar bill, construction worker, politician, drug addict, child, teacher, report card, mail order catalogue, boss, swimming pool, dog, towel, onion, computer, neighbor, planet, pine cone, cigarette, airplane, spam subject, fork, mountain, etc.

"Recognition" by Daron Larson. Text as posted on the Attentional Fitness Training blog (12/12/2008). © Daron Larson. Reprinted by permission of the poet

Art credit: Untitled photograph taken by the poet. See more of his images here.