This latest offering in the secondhand series comes from Susan, a fellow poetic-minded soul who shares her thoughts online at If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going. I’m thankful she was kind enough to venture into the world of haiku to offer a contribution. And with much of the U.S. in the grips of a freeze wave — the temp outside my door this morning at 19° F going up to just below freezing — this haiku couldn’t be more appropriately timed.

If you know any folks who are elderly or house-bound and living alone, it’s not a bad idea to check on them in times like this. Freezing temperatures in the Philadelphia area also remind me to point out the needs of those without reliable shelter. Poject H.O.M.E. has a great street outreach program to help encourage those without shelter to come in from the cold. If you’re in Philly and you see a homeless person without shelter, you can call 215-232-1984 to let Project H.O.M.E.’s street outreach team know.

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I watched the rain falling in the wee hours of the morning last week, noticing how clean the street looked and then noticing the rush of debris-ridden street water streaming into the gutters. I was thinking of what a dirty place the rain gutter must be. Then it occurred to me that there are some places that must absorb the dirt and debris so other places can remain clean and clear.

Then I started thinking about the proxies that take the negatives and grime the rest of us don’t want, or simply can’t bear. Then I thought that maybe some things are scarred or dirty because it’s their job to be. Kind of like a sacrificial lamb. Or a rain gutter.

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the before is above, the after is below:

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