Be light

An ordinary afternoon 

In an ordinary, imperfect forest, 

Transformed by late afternoon sunlight 

Into an invitation, into magic and mystery. 

This is the transformative power of light, 

And we, too, can be light; 

 Can choose to illuminate 

The beauty in the ordinary.

Prayers for those inundated

Prayers flying today 

For all who live in Washington 

Close to rivers or the sea: 

May their homes and their lives 

Be safe from the floods.

Running? From what, and why?

Remember that old saying: 

“When the going gets tough, 

The tough get going”? 

These two look like they’re escaping, 

But what? And why? 

That urge to flee when things get rough 

May not always be the voice of reason: 

It’s always important to ask yourself 

What aspect of yourself you’re running from, 

And what in the world might be improved 

If you made the choice to stay?

No direct path

Whatever your objective, 

The path to reach it may not be that direct. 

Don’t be afraid if life seems to be taking you 

Aside, or around the bend: 

Look forward to finding a new perspective 

While moving ever closer to your goal.

Driftwood predators

When I first discovered photography, 

I was living on a small island, 

And I became obsessed 

 With taking driftwood pictures: 

Their curious formations 

Looked like metaphors to me. 

I rarely encounter driftwood these days,

 But this one called to me, 

And spoke of predators, 

Feeding on the entrails of their prey; 

Unpleasantly reminiscent 

 Of the current state of my country…

The power of intention

It was a drive-by sheeping, 

And the miracle of it was 

 That while the grasses in the foreground 

And the trees back behind 

All dissolved into stripes 

With the motion of the car 

The sheep remained so clear:

 A testament to the power 

Of focus and intention. 

How can we employ that power 

To help mitigate world pain?

A brighter tomorrow

As evening falls and darkness descends 

The colors in the sky ignite, 

 Reminding us that endings can be beautiful; 

That when things look their blackest 

Light is that much more appreciated, 

And that a new dawn is promised to arrive, 

Just around the corner. 

Trust in that, do not despair, 

And let hope guide you through this night 

Into a brighter tomorrow.