Hidden Gifts

by Cheryl Merrick

Some people,
      seeing only their weaknesses,
fail to recognize
     their gifts.

Some become so blinded
      by the seeming brilliance
      of other’s gifts
that they cannot
      perceive their own.

Some, in false humility,
     disown their gifts
as they flee from
     the responsibility
     of developing them.

Some, expecting gifts
     to require no effort
     on their part,
discount what
     they have been given.

And there are those
     who, because something
     comes easily to them,
take their gifts for granted.

And so,
     unseen and unshared,
many gifts,
     lie hidden.