I walk up the Falls Road
at lunch time.
Traffic slowly passes by –
an unending procession
of buses, vans, cars
and black taxis.
There is a whiff of exhaust fumes
in the air
and the steady drone
of car engines.

Crossing a series of slip roads
that lead down
to Belfast’s busy West Link,
I pass a small community garden
and out of the corner of my eye
I glimpse a splash of colour.

When I turn around to look properly
I see startlingly blue cornflowers,
purple bluebells
and crimson poppies,
all nestling
among long, green grass
in a tiny wild flower meadow,
cheek by jowl
with Belfast’s busiest thoroughfare.

I’m amazed!

I drove past this community garden
this morning
on my way to work
and yesterday
and the day before that
and I hadn’t spotted
one single flower!

I sense My God beside me
as I walk,
delighting in my surprise
and reminding me (yet again!)
that there is always beauty
to be found
by those who pause
and take the time
to look for it
in nature
and in each other.

© Claire Murray, 13th May 2015