More tenderness

I stand in my kitchen, 

Watching the mama doe and her yearling 

Gently loving on one another, 

And I think: this is what the world needs — 

More tenderness; 

More tenderness.

Encroachments

So often we erect barriers 

To keep us from dealing with 

The troubles of the world.

But over time, nature encroaches,

And though those encroachments

May seem lovely and fresh,

Over time they’re more likely

To pull those barriers down

And we’ll be forced to face

What we’d prefer to avoid…

To pull those barriers down 

And we’ll be forced to face 

What we’d prefer to avoid…

Gray days

Even on the gray days, 

People are still working, 

And I am working, too, 

Trying to find light between the grays 

Trying to welcome the contrast 

The dark provides; 

Greeting it with love, not hate, 

To soften its hard edges.

What if?

I watch my cat stare fixedly 

At a painting I’d stacked on the floor, 

And wonder: 

What are his thoughts as he stares, 

And what is it that engages him — 

Or did he just happen to fall asleep 

In that spot on the rug 

Instead of my lap? 

I know he loves music; 

What if he also loves art?

Be the light

I know it can be dark these days, 

But somewhere in this night 

Though it be tucked behind a cloud 

There is a light that shines. 

And if you cannot see that light, 

It may be time for you to be that light 

For others, who also struggle in the dark.

Learning to listen

I watch the seagulls, 

And they watch me, 

Occasionally engaging 

On this gray and windy day, 

And their full white breasts 

Bring back memories of the goose 

I once held in my arms 

And mothered into adulthood. 

These animals have so much to teach us. 

When will we stop and listen?

Otters

I’ve always been a fan of otters: 

There’s something about the joy they find 

Both on the water’s surface 

And in its depths, 

And the way they float on their backs 

While carrying their young 

That seems so open, and tender… 

So I totally understand 

Why an artist would choose to recreate them 

And why my town would place them here 

For all to enjoy.