Integrity

May the light of our integrity 

Be so strong that it’s still visible 

When darkened by the clouds of injustice, 

And in time will prove so powerful

The clouds will melt away.

Mystery

Sometimes life’s a mystery: 

Layers upon layers 

Of reflections and incidents 

That may or may not add up 

To anything recognizable 

 Or even understandable, 

Yet still we persist in hoping 

 There’s some kind of rhyme or reason 

And that everything will turn out for the best.

Sunrise after a storm

Sunrise after a storm: 

Just what we all need, 

To reassure ourselves 

That things will get better, 

That life will go on 

After all the devastation is past.

Past imperfect

We ripped all of the weeds out of our garden 

And planted so-called deer-proof plants, 

Only to find there’s really no such thing. 

As we watch the deer chew the leaves 

Off all the stalks, leaving us a garden 

 That’s just full of sticks and mulch, 

I’m reminded of the words 

Of Scottish poet Robert Burns: 

“The best laid plans o’ mice an’ men 

Gang aft agley,” and find I miss the weeds, 

 Much as I miss some past imperfect presidents…

Adjusting sails

We used to have a sign that read, 

“You can’t control the wind, 

But you can adjust your sails.” 

I think of this now, 

As the same loud wind 

That kept us awake last night 

Becomes a recreational opportunity 

 For someone else this morning. 

How, I wonder, might we adjust our sails 

To deal with the coming storm?

For all the losses

Today I offer flowers 

For all who wrestle with losses, large or small: 

There seem to be more right now 

Than any of us can count — 

Not just of lives and jobs and homes, 

But of kindness and generosity, 

Of sympathy and empathy. 

What can we do to restore belief 

And trust in this hurting world?

On being shy

We introverts are shy, 

But shy can be interpreted 

 In lots of different ways: 

As timid, or as snobbish; 

As uninterested, or unwilling, 

Or sometimes just invisible — 

Which sometimes is exactly 

What we’re hoping for..

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.

Go with confidence

Whatever path we’re given, 

May we choose to stride with confidence 

While always listening 

For the promptings of spirit 

And the guidance of the heart.

At day’s end

Arching her back like a ballerina,

 She leans into the dying sun 

To soak up its last rays 

Before the mists of evening overtake her.

Don’t be misled

There will be many 

Who offer to light the way for you;

 Who claim to know and speak the truth, 

But only seek what leads to their advantage…

Alone with the mystery

For those who seek the mystery, 

Time alone offers a gift:

A chance to feel the weight of winter clouds, 

Yet see the light that’s just beyond them; 

A chance to feel the rocky footing underneath, 

And hear the power of the waves 

Who both deliver, and wash the stones away; 

A chance to learn 

How small we and our troubles are, and yet 

How sharing them with earth and sky and sea 

Can lead us to solutions beneficial to all.

A delicate calligraphy

Earth, water, sky and forest — 

All a pleasing backdrop 

To the lives we’re born to live, 

And we, a delicate calligraphy, 

Tracing our stories over time,

 Reflected in the lives around us.

Distraction

When the world is such a beautiful place, 

Why are you staring into your phone?

Above it all

If the hurly burly world feels a bit overwhelming, Sometimes it’s good to get above the fray;

 To get both a different perspective 

And a respite from the madness…