Smucker's Jar

A short poem about strangers, hope, and the nature of gifts.

I was walking down the beach one day
having wandered far from home,
When I thought I saw a Smucker’s jar
floating in the foam.

I rubbed my eyes but there it was
bobbing on the sea,
Till a wave washed over the jagged rocks
and brought the jar to me.

I picked it up, wrenched off the lid,
and found inside a note,
Where a stranger, in some happy fit,
and bleeding ink had wrote:

         Hello stranger! I hope you’re well
         I sent this jar to say:
         If this piece of glass can cross your path
         You can make it through today.

I thought the letter over
but it wasn’t meant for me
So I waited for the tide to rise,
and sent it back to sea.