i see you

*dedicated to a great friend and extraordinary piano player named Beate Perrey.

this is one of the first pieces i ever wrote, but i didn’t know it was a poem. when i read it to her she said, “jon, this is beautiful…you are poet.”

i remember thinking…really??!! no, one has ever said that to me. is that possible??

Beate, here i am almost two years later and you were right…i am a poet! thank you so much…for seeing me…before i could.

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i see you

i think these are three of 

the most powerful words

for me it means

i connect to 

both your pain and joy

when you are sad

i am sad

when you are happy

i am happy

even in disagreement

i am for you and your best

that i feel you 

and will act as if 

we are each other

i will stand with you 

when you are taking risks

i have room for you 

to try new things 

and make mistakes

i will look you in the eye 

when you are capable of more

because to see is 

to truly honor someone’s soul

to honor their full humanity

what an amazing gift 

we can give each other

to walk through life each day

looking at someone

and to say with 

words and actions

i see you