Gratitude

Some days, the gratitude is overwhelming: 

For the return of spring and sunlight; 

For the mountains and the sea; 

For all those who went before us, 

Building lighthouses to protect us, 

And manning them in the dark and storms; 

For the grass and sand beneath my feet, 

The friends who join us on this walk, 

And the raucous cries of the gulls — 

Breathe deep and drink the salted air 

Of gratefulness.