When reading the poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks this week, I found myself struck by her range. She can write about abortion, youthful defiance, and the arrogance of the rich with ease and it never feels outside of her. The one thing each poem shares is her incredible insight into humanity - the way she sees people - not just on a surface level, but into the essence of their being. The poem that struck me the most was "The Bean Eaters." It's about an elderly couple nearing the end of life's journey as they sit together and eat dinner "Remembering, with tinklings and twinges" the details of their lives. I was instantly struck with the image of an old married couple I knew. They were regulars at the Buffalo Wild Wings I worked at over the summer. They would come in, real sweet to everybody, sit down and hold hands as she played trivia and he watched sports. She was in a wheelchair, and he took care of her with pride and unconditional love. Whispers were abound in the restaurant whenever they showed up. "I hope I find somebody like that," or "That's what I want my life to be like" could be heard piercing the air. I searched for an image that captured this couple, and this painting by Dianne Dengel was the best I could find. It's an imperfect picture though. The couple in the image is smiling with the splendor of youth. The elderly couple I catered to had just as much joy, but happiness manifested itself in a different way in them. Behind the wrinkles, the sunspots, and the dark circles under the eyes that marked a long, well-lived life, there was a vibrance in the pupils. It looked like the embodiment of hope and peace, existing beyond the veil of the iris into the human soul. It's that feeling that Brooks evokes in her poem. Yes, this couple is comprised of "Two who have lived their day,/But keep on putting on their clothes/And putting things away" but they are more than that. They are teachers for all of us. For this generation of high-anxiety and crippling stress; of multitasking and the digital world; a generation that obsesses over interpersonal connection, but never really communicates with anyone. We are searching for answers and they have it figured out. They are the Bean Eaters. Maybe its time to order up some of those beans ourselves. What do you think?