Autumnal bliss

Afloat in a sea of autumnal bliss...

Patience

Some days, you really feel

Like you’re going somewhere, 

While other days, it’s hard not to feel 

That the world is passing you by. 

The trick is not to get caught up in either sensation; 

To rejoice in the blessings, 

Both when life speeds up 

And whenever it seems to have slowed to a crawl.

Heading for new possibilities

The path ahead may be lined with thorns, 

But I trust it will bring us 

To a place of grace, a greener land,

 Blessed with new possibilities.

Peaceable kingdom

May we all find a way to co-exist; 

To forgive, to respect, to trust and enjoy 

Our fellow creatures and bring about 

A true Peaceable Kingdom.

The invitation

The invitation’s always there: 

To step away from a busy day, 

To sit at the edge of the sun-dappled lawn 

 And watch the waves roll in 

To refresh the thirsty beach below; 

To look beyond immediacy 

To the islands in the distance, and dream…

The eve of destruction

My husband took this picture 

(I feel honor bound to say) 

Of yet another branch (Our third this month) 

The deer have broken from our trees. 

And, sure enough, guilty but unrepentant,

 This handsome miscreant told his friends, 

And all the leaves on the branches 

And the apples that had fallen

 Were all eaten by the end of the day; 

I guess this means autumn’s on its way.

Craving consensus

The stark contrast 

Between the white buildings 

And the dark sea and sky 

Is so pleasing, so riveting. 

I wonder if it satisfies 

Something in us that craves a world 

In which black and white, 

Right and wrong, 

Are clearly obvious to all…

The path you choose

Most of us know that feeling: 

To be outside looking in; 

To know you’ve something to offer, 

But folks are listening to someone else; 

The prophet unappreciated 

 In his own home town… 

The path you choose — 

 To speak up anyway, to leave, 

Or to pull into yourself — 

Will frame not only your future, but theirs.

The best way to heal

Sometimes the best way to heal 

Or even just to deal 

Is to be still, and to remain in light; 

To quietly appreciate 

 The warmth of a summer’s day 

And to trust, however briefly, 

That, for the moment, all is well.

Tangled web

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave 

When first we practice to deceive” 

Is what my mama used to say, 

And never has it seemed so obviously true. 

What does it tell you, that when I see 

This tangled mass I think of politicians?

When bullying fails

Here’s a photo I never expected to take: 

 Two hawks on a madrona branch. 

 But, like a fisherman, I wish you could see 

The one that got away, because 

Before I could get my camera out, 

The hawk on the left was chasing a squirrel 

 In circles around the base of a tree, 

Wings out, and screeching. 

Luckily, the squirrel was able 

To escape into the bushes — 

Which may be why the hawk’s now hiding his head: 

His bullying tactics have failed.

Asymmetry

My artist mother always preached 

The importance of asymmetry, 

Though she never explained why. 

So today I took two pictures — 

One with the boat centered, 

And this one, with it off to the right. 

And now I understand 

 The deeper significance of asymmetry: 

It’s not just that it’s pleasing to the eye; 

By moving the boat off to the side, 

 I give voice to the clouds and the sea. 

By centering the boat, we force the viewer 

 To focus there and miss 

 The beauty that surrounds it — 

Just as a leader who chooses to keep

All focus on himself

Devalues the gifts of those around him

And the organization he serves.

You’re not alone

You’re not all alone 

On the deep blue sea: 

The clouds and the islands 

Bear you company.

Sweetness awaits

No matter how much pain we’re in, 

Or how worried we are 

 About our children, our country,

 Or our future, 

Nature keeps sending us love letters: 

A beautiful sunset, the scent of rain, 

A garden of flowers, a gentle breeze —

 All reminders that life is larger than our concerns 

And sweetness awaits those who watch for it.

Morning blessings

What a gift, to wake up this morning 

 To a sky so full of color!

He waits

As the early morning sky 

Grows streaked with orange, 

He waits beneath the cherry tree 

Watching as I tiptoe through the yard 

To catch a glimpse of the sparkles on the sea.

Celebrating fruition

As summer draws to its inevitable close, 

The apples gather in the trees 

To celebrate their ripening; 

That season when they finally 

Achieve fulfillment and fruition.

Sleeping beauty

I don’t know the story of this house, 

But it speaks to me of desolation, desperation, 

Loss and loneliness. 

With no way in, and no way out, 

And no one with the energy 

To fight back all the thorns and thistles 

And turn this house back to a home: 

It makes me ache to see it.

Let us be light

With a glimpse of sunlight 

Through a rain-washed window, 

Framed by a darkened sky, 

Can a rainbow be far behind? 

Let us be the light that awakens rainbows 

When darkness threatens to overwhelm us all.

Where did the summer go?

I can’t believe it’s time already 

For the leaves to be turning red. 

Where did the summer go?

Nature’s consciousness

When the cloud mimics the trees 

On its horizon, we can postulate 

 That nature might be conscious of herself; 

Might even have a sense of humor; 

That the cloud teases the trees, 

And the trees chuckle among themselves, 

And feel more proud and beautiful, 

Having been flattered by her charming imitation.

Asking for help

There will be times 

When “doing what comes naturally” 

Gets us into trouble: 

Minor troubles, for the most part, 

But there may be problems 

We struggle to resolve on our own. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: 

Your willingness to admit to need 

Is another’s opportunity to feel 

The pleasure of generosity.

How bountiful

The majestic sweep of bridge and sky, 

The mountains and the sea conspire 

To remind us just how small we are, 

And how fortunate, to reap the benefits 

Of living in so bountiful an environment.