Whatever Life Hands You

 

 

If life hands you a lemon

Be the most refreshing lemonade,

If bitter bark be the offer of the day

Mauby is an excellent trade.

 

If instead, the hottest ginger,

Ginger ale is a comforting brew

Or when those fits of passion interfere

It’s time for passion fruit juice.

 

If hot pepper comes your way

Then add flavour to someone,

They may need such a seasoning

That a long time has been gone.

 

Essence is bitter to the taste

And should never be used alone

But when combined appropriately

It improves the overall tone.

 

If life hands you a dart

Do not pierce another’s heart

But by patient and diligent application

Help someone in the dark.

 

 

If life hands you poison cassava

Do not put it in another’s pot

But after the due process, bake it;

A delicious pone you have got.

 

Process and mix!  That’s it!

Whatever in life is your lot,

It takes both sun and rain together

To develop a special crop.

 

Hard-knocks is a tough teacher

But the learning of which is durable 

And when shared with another,

It’s particularly insightful.

 

Learn from another’s experience

And teach from yours as well,

And whatever life brings, my friend,

You have something to tell. 

 

In the mix of our daily life

Whether acid or sugary sweet,

There are myriad lessons to be learned

And lessons that we must teach.

 

Stewart Russell © September 5, 2021