Why cast blame?

Which do we find more beautiful: 

The reflections water casts on the boat? 

Or the reflections cast by the boat upon the water? 

And why be forced to choose? 

Isn’t it the wholeness of the scene 

That has the most impact? 

As in any relationship, isn’t the beauty in it — 

Or the darkness —

 Compounded by and greater than 

The individual contributions?

Beauty in loss

The flowers tell us 

There’s beauty to be found 

Even in loss, 

But that’s not a song we care to hear 

In times like these 

When there’s so much to mourn…

Moonrise

Struggling to fall asleep, 

I wandered out to the living room 

And there, there poised the moon, 

Suspended on an invisible rope 

In a patch of clouds 

 Between two trees, 

Their branches reaching out like fans 

To touch the garment of a passing celebrity.

Hidden in the grasses

It’s Sunday, and if you do not go to church, 

Then take a walk, and sense the presence 

 Guiding you as you step. 

Look up, of course; 

 We all do that on Sundays, 

Wondering if God is there, and watching, 

But look down, as well, 

For hiding in the texture 

 And the color of the grasses 

Lurks a reminder of how alike we are, 

 Though different;

 Of how those differences, united 

Can form beauty; 

Of how, when one is downtrodden 

 All are crushed…

Madronas

The magic and the mystery 

Of madronas on the waterfront: 

The way they cling to the rocky cliffs; 

The beauty of their peeling bark 

And the vibrant underbelly it reveals; 

And finally, in spring, their golden florets, 

Igniting the evergreen-darkened hillsides 

With the promise of new life.

Apologies

Unlike this busy little bee, I realize 

I’ve been slacking off, 

And now I wish to apologize— 

Not for plays unwritten, 

Or still-bare canvases, 

But for not reaching out 

To friends and neighbors more.

 I could blame my inner introvert, or age, 

But I suspect it’s the news that’s got me 

Hibernating: Exactly the wrong response, 

But it seems to sap my energy 

When it should be rousing me to action — 

But what action could I take? 

Then round and round, and roundabout, 

My brain starts spinning 

 And soon I just need to nap.

A beautiful collaboration

The flags we posted to keep the birds 

From crashing into our windows 

Grow even more enchanting 

When our Rhodie is in bloom. 

 Wouldn’t it be nice if that were always true; 

That instead of always being in competition, Collaboration to make things better 

Were the order of the day?