I look out at the lake

see within it so many

strands of tangled living

the algae eat things I cannot see

the fish nibble the algae

the birds swoop up the fish

all has a place and purpose

I look out at the lake

and I wonder about my purpose

about where I belong

but as I watch a fish

break the water’s surface

ripple the reflected clouds

I can somehow see

no sense of worry

within the fish’s face

the fish does not wonder

if it belongs

nor does the algae

nor do the birds

they merely are alive

within this gleaming web

of all things

and so am I

though most of us

look for it our whole lives

look to our friends

our families

our small towns

our sports teams

to provide it

there is no need to seek out

some place where we belong

because there is nothing

that does not belong here

even us

we too belong to the lake

and the sky above it

and the mountains that frame it all

yes, even we belong

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at alexandershalomjoseph.com.