On the fence

Like this gull, we’ll all be watching today, 

Whichever party we follow: 

Hoping for good news, 

Fearing the bad news, 

And feeling like we’re standing on the fence 

Between now and a brighter — 

Or darker — tomorrow.

What’s Not Evergreen

As for me, I continue to prefer 

The evergreens that grow in my yard 

To the ships that pass on the nearby sea…

Rested up for what’s to come

Even the deer enjoyed 

That extra hour of sleep 

We all received last night, 

But now it’s time to set our clocks back 

And prepare for the winter ahead.

As skies grow gray

As skies grow gray and the winds grow cold, 

We seek other ways to fill our lives 

With warmth and color...

Let goodness shine

Awakening late this morning 

After a night of troubled sleep,

 I wander into the kitchen for coffee 

And see the mountain,

 Glowing in the distance 

Despite the cloud cover and the rain, 

Inspiring hope in my troubled breast.

 Let goodness shine like the mountain, 

Cries my heart: 

Let goodness shine!

Dark clouds ahead

How many of us lie awake at night 

Worrying about the coming storms? 

So many warnings come throughout the day— 

Of weather, war, of risk, and retributions… 

The clouds ahead are dark, and thickening fast, 

But still we trust, and continue to move forward.

Something loftier

No matter what we’ve planted or built, 

The sky can always offer 

A magnificent counterpoint to the scene: 

A gentle reminder 

There’s always something loftier 

Than our immediate concerns…