Courage to be you

It takes courage to be you; 

To be the one spot of color in a gray, gray world; 

To be the one red poppy in a summer-brown lawn; 

To be the one voice of love in a hate-filled room. 

May you find your way to others 

Who will join you in your quest to voice what’s true.

Welcoming fawns

Good morning, little ones, 

And welcome to our yard! 

Though we’re sad to see you eat our plants, 

We love to watch your joyful dance.

Glorious day

As the sun peeks over the mountains, 

Gilding the water below, 

The Eagle cries and the fawns race by: 

Another glorious day.

Grace and imagination

Our town has a new old car museum, 

Filled with charming vehicles

 From the early 1900’s, 

Many modeled on the carriages 

From horse and buggy days; 

Most built by tiny companies 

 Whose names are unfamiliar now 

Because they didn’t last. 

I imagine the excitement 

 Of those early days and marvel 

At the grace and imagination 

They built into their designs.

Mixed feelings

The yellow bush lupine 

Is not a native plant, I’m told, 

And is considered invasive, yet 

Each year I revel in its beauty 

As its golden blooms adorn 

The grounds around our lighthouse, 

And find I have mixed feelings about 

Our efforts to exclude 

These grace-filled immigrants…

Becoming peace

What could possibly go wrong 

On a day that starts like this? 

That is not the question: 

We really should be asking 

How we can become this moment 

And carry it into the world, 

Bringing peace 

To all whose lives we touch?

Enraptured

An irresistible sunrise 

Pulled me out into the yard 

And across the lawn 

To the fragile edge of the cliff 

We’re told we’ll lose 

At some unnamed time 

In the hopefully distant future. 

But I can’t think of that now: 

I’m too enraptured 

By the colors in the sky.