Ships passing

What must it be like, 

To be traveling on so large a ship 

When the rising sun paints the clouds 

 Such glorious colors? 

Do they pause to watch, 

Or take turns steering 

So all eyes may drink their fill?

Geese on a lawn

How is my heart like a flock of geese on a lawn? Scattered, yet still all lined up, 

Like ducks in a row, 

Trying to do the right thing 

While yet still some rebellion; 

Some part of me always standing apart, 

Another part clustered for safety 

While other parts, curious, keep looking around 

(For inspiration, or danger? Who knows?) 

All the while gratefully nibbling 

 On the grass nature gives us, 

And happy to rest for a while although knowing 

The long flight awaits us,

 When all parts will gather and fly in formation 

For the long journey home.

Striations

Striations in the leaves, 

So regular they look intentional, 

A grace filled decoration 

That adds to the design, 

 Highlighting natural beauty already in place — 

Almost like wrinkles, adding beauty, 

But speaking of age, 

And of losses yet to come…

Nature vs. nurture

Nature permits us to impose our will, 

But whatever we create or construct — 

Be it barns, relationships, communities, 

Organizations or democracies — 

We must commit to maintain, 

Or nature will conspire to break it down: 

That which we neglect or ignore 

Will gradually, inevitably, 

 Revert to its original non-existence.

The moon wasn’t full

Yes, it was a half moon, 

And my mobile camera couldn’t do it justice, 

But the way it sent light echoes to the stars, 

Highlighted the striations of the clouds 

 While etching the dark strokes of the tree 

Felt like encouragement: 

 To help all those we can; 

To shine a light on both the beauty 

 And the darkness of the world as best we can; 

 Not shrinking from the task 

For fear that some might mock our imperfections.

Flights of inspiration

That which, within us, 

Exults in the flight of the snow geese 

Both remembers and anticipates 

 Our own flights of inspiration; 

Feels that lifting of the heart 

Like the beating of a thousand wings…

Nature comforts

I take comfort in knowing 

The essentials of nature 

Are both ever-changing and unchangeable

 (If that’s a word; my iPhone says it’s not); 

That the water, the grass, and the trees, 

The mountains, the clouds, the mist and the sky 

Still have the power to soothe me 

When I’m unsettled and anxious, 

And I’m grateful.