The play of dark and light

It’s hard to say what’s lovelier here: 

The leaves? Or the flowers? 

Each has such grace — 

 But why do we have to choose? 

For each, it is the play of dark and light; 

The textures and the colors 

That in nature, as in life, 

Offer both beauty and meaning; 

An invitation to explore, 

 As well as joy and inspiration.

Gratitude and response

A picture can’t really convey 

The magnificence of this ancient rhody, 

Which is almost two stories tall 

And blesses us with its glorious waterfall of pink 

Each year around this time; 

Nor can words truly convey 

My gratitude for this amazing gift 

And the joy that fills my heart each morning 

 As I sit and watch those pink buds 

 Turn to blossoms. 

The undemanding generosity of nature 

 Continues to astound me: 

 How can we not ache — and sacrifice— 

To protect it?

Glowing in the dark

Walking by our neighbor’s house at sundown,

 I’m surprised by how brightly this purple pops: 

In this low light, it’s practically iridescent, 

And I find I’m itching to get back home, 

To see if our apple blossoms also 

Show up better in the fading light of evening. 

There are those of us, I do believe, 

Whose true colors shine more brightly 

In darker times; 

Whose quiet worth might be otherwise easily missed.

Green and good

Apple trees blooming, 

A newly mowed lawn, 

A moon so round it stops me in my tracks 

(And wakes me up at 3am, 

Beaming love through my bedroom window) 

Life in this moment is green and good.

Hidden iceberg

From our perspective, at the top of the cliff,

 It looked as if a giant were floating underwater; 

Only his foot and toes sticking out

 (You know, of course, 

That giants only have 3 toes!) 

Sort of like an iceberg, 

Like the one we carry in our hearts — 

All the hidden thoughts and history 

That lie behind the words we speak and write; 

The secret fuel to our anger, our compassion, 

And our art…

Apple blossom time

Our apple trees are blooming, 

Their bright blossoms coloring their branches 

With rosy promises of fruit to come.

Taking that path

Looking ahead, the path seems clear, 

But then it appears to peter out: 

Should we take it anyway? 

Or live in fear 

That we’ll take the risk but then find ourselves 

Trapped at the end with nothing to do 

But turn back. 

But what will we have lost if we take that risk? 

Only time. Only time. 

 And there’s always the chance 

 The adventure will have been 

 Worth that time; 

That you might come back 

Having learned a new truth 

About how strong you can be…