Appreciate variety

I’ve never understood the urge 

To reduce the world around us 

To a single color.

 For me, the pleasure I find 

In my neighbor’s garden 

 Lies in the mix of styles and colors; 

The variety of scents and shapes —

 Especially when echoed 

 By the colors in the sky…

Ornamental cherries

And still, despite the changes in our world, 

The cherry blossoms turn to fruit 

And glow like Christmas lights amid the branches.

Love from a distance

We share our yard with so many furry animals: 

The rabbits, and the squirrels; 

The racing fawns, the does, and the four bucks 

 With their fuzzy horns, 

The neighbors’ dog, and the horse 

That once came galloping through… 

I long to stroke them all the way 

I soothe the kitten on my lap 

But sometimes love is best shown from a distance, 

With our eyes, our thoughts, and hearts; 

Not with our hands.

Look up and out

Just because you feel that you are caught 

Between a rock and a hard place, 

That doesn’t mean there is no path 

Out of the situation; 

Only that you may well need 

To look up and out 

 To find a way to extricate yourself.

The swallows return

This is the fifth year the swallows have returned 

 To their nest, across from our front door. 

After their second year, 

We painted the house gray 

But left a few bits of yellow 

Rather than take down the nest. 

It’s worth the mess they leave on the steps below 

To see their little faces

And hear their little voices!

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.