Always there

In summer, sunsets fill this view, 

But in December the clouds are colored 

By the sunrises behind me; 

Quiet reflections of a majesty 

Hidden in the trees: 

More subtle, but equally lovely, 

As if the summer door has closed 

But another wintry door has opened. 

If only we remember to notice 

 And choose to accept the change, 

The source of light and color is always there, 

Awaiting our attention.

The jewel at the center

Every time I drive past these two trees,

 I am fascinated, 

Intrigued by the shapes they carve 

Into the sky above them, 

So finally, on a foggy day, 

I looked forward to seeing those shapes 

 In relief against the gray surround 

And kept my camera poised 

But by the time I reached them 

The fog had lifted, though not completely. 

I stopped anyway, and framed the shot, 

And hit the big white button on my phone, 

Only later to discover 

 The charming detail at their base: The red shed, 

 And the white diamonds in its door 

Like tiny gems at the heart of the image. 

Pay attention! Listen to what calls you, 

And make time to discover or uncover 

The jewels that await you 

At the core; at the nucleus of being.

Distracted by the colors

Heading to my computer to finish the script 

For this morning’s news broadcast,

 I’m distracted by the colors 

In the sky outside my window.

 The slate roof on the old shed 

Glows in the morning light 

And the plum, fig, and cherry trees 

Sketch a lacy mantilla across the rosy skies, 

Offering an encouragement 

 To set aside my to-do list, and just breathe…

Whether to ignite or obscure

A patch of sun to brighten a foggy day 

Ignites a tiny section 

 Of the tree that looms ahead 

And leaves a tiny patch of light 

On the asphalt road below 

While at the same time bringing 

 A more subtle cast of light to our surroundings, 

In which every drop of fog 

Creates a sense of mystery, 

Obscuring what’s ahead. 

Each of us carries light within: 

The choice is always ours, 

Whether to ignite or to obscure 

With that power.

The gift of flowers

A wee bit of color to brighten your day: 

Winter may be upon us, 

But there’s still friendship to warm the heart.

Reflection

Just as there can be no reflection without light, 

There can be no enlightenment 

 Without reflection. 

It is only in considering 

Our choices and our actions 

That we grow into the beings 

We were born to become.

Protective coloration

You kind of have to squint to see it: 

The mountain’s snow-capped peaks 

Reflecting back the colors of the sky 

Are almost lost; so perfectly camouflaged. 

I’ve seen relationships like that — 

A person whose impact deserves to be huge,

 Becoming almost invisible 

 In the miasma of otherness; 

It’s only time and familiarity 

That helps us know the magnitude 

Of what is being hidden behind 

 That protective coloration…