Rain continues to fall
While the wind rests
My racing thoughts
And rapid pulse
Gratefully embrace
A moment of calm-
The saturated ground
Swells, painfully aware
Of its limited capacity
Struggling as the rain
Completely unaware
Continues to fall
Like a continuous stream
Of tears rolling down
An already dampened cheek
Unsure of their destination-
Will the tears be brushed
Away by hands, dry and cracked
From denial and indifference
Or allowed to freely flow
Softening hearts
As the rain softened the ground
Tag: nature
Lesson in the Sunrise
A dark cloud of apathy
Split the morning
Perfectly in half
Left to linger
The damage left behind
Will be impossible to mend-
Strange, love exists
On both sides
Of the darkness
I must believe it does-
Rays of hope
Able to burnish holes
Through the shadows
Of indifference
Affording hope even
In the murkiest of storms-
Light joining hands
Across the darkness
On a recent morning drive, I noticed an unusual sunrise. From my vantage point, a large dark cloud divided the sun’s fiery red glow in half. The clarity of the division was daunting. Yet despite the chasm, beauty existed in each half.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Necessary Companions
Though its comings and goings
Are fairly gradual
It sometimes seems
To disappear in a snap
Leaving us to wonder
How it gave in so quickly
To its counterpart-
Not sure they are friends
Light and dark
But their cooperation
Is necessary
For our survival
One allowing us to rest
And sleep, and dream
Freeing space
In our hearts and minds
To notice a beautiful
Brushstroke of the other
As it paints pink across
Smiling sunrise clouds
Simply Sunday
Rocks and Trees
A highway lined
With Aspen groves
Their golden leaves
Smiling golden smiles
Covering me with affection
A winding road lined
With massive boulders
In their current state
Of stacked strength
Covering me with shade-
Different, yet each
Conveys the feeling
Of being snuggly wrapped
In my favorite blanket-
Warmth and security
Sometimes come from
The most surprising places
Fade to Blur
A beautiful blue design
On a soft white backdrop
Graced the morning sky-
Like a cherished dish
Whose intricate pattern has
Grown dull over time
From years spent
Holding tasty treats
Before being gently washed
Then carefully put away-
Though the design has faded to blur
The memories held
Remain clear and strong-
It may seem impossible
After so much time has passed
But certain recollections
Plant themselves deeply-
Like visiting Grandma
For a cup of coffee and a piece
Of her chocolate cake
Baked with a secret ingredient
What was that secret ingredient?
Well, that’s my memory
Toward Home
Brave steps
Only a few
Before glancing
Back toward home-
Home, that place
Of security
Holding and pushing
A beautiful ebb and flow-
You are seeking
Freedom
Independence
While she watches
Searching for the balance
Between protecting
And letting go
It’s not an easy trek
But wrapped in love
The path will show itself-
Your head tilts slightly
Curiosity taking its
Rightful Place
In your thoughts
She smiles curiously
Joy taking its
Rightful Place
In her heart
Simply Sunday
Mountain Lessons
Majestic, monumental
Mysterious, picturesque
Even these words feel
Inadequate when describing
The view of the mountain while sitting in the valley-
Both are beautiful
In their own respect
And I would imagine reactions vary
Depending on the one searching-
For me, the valley is peaceful
Colorful meadows, waving
Mountain lakes, reflecting
Three-hundred-sixty-degree views
Even before my eyes move
Upward toward the peaks-
Standing on the pinnacle
Peering downward
Into the valley
I am reverent, respectful, fearful
The magnitude and elevation
Melding into a wave of emotions
I cannot explain-
Only the truth of my smallness
In our beautiful and broken world
Yellow Ribbon
Perfectly content
Exploring the peaceful valley
From my seat on the rock
I glanced up, noticing
Bright yellow ribbons
Winding their way
Through the mountains
As if a painter had chosen
Just the right brush
And gently dabbed
Contrasting colors
Behind the evergreens
Creating a trail that
Graciously called out –
Don’t stay in the valley
Come to the mountaintop
Follow the yellow ribbon
Until the trees disappear
Then look back
To see how far you’ve traveled
Yesterday, Gart and I traveled the beautiful roads of Rocky Mountain National Park to the Alpine Visitor Center, elevation 11,796 feet. The views were stunning. And seeing the valley we had explored the day before from above was humbling.
Traveling on high, curvy mountain roads is a challenge for me. Just the thought of it puts a knot in my stomach. In recent years, I’ve come to understand the roots of this anxiety. And I’m grateful to have someone beside me who understands, challenges, and encourages me. Oh, and also takes some amazing photos! ā¤ļø
Photo credit Gart Morris 3 & 4
Seeking
There is no denying
It exists in every
Corner of our world
Brokenness–
Most days, it lives
In my periphery
On the news
Down the street
Other days
It parks itself right
In the center of my heart-
The same is true of love
Whether noticed
Around the edges
Or in the center
Love holds the ability to grow
From the tiniest bits of joy-
The first chirp of the
Robin’s morning Hello!
The yellow-gold leaves
Of mountain Aspens in the Fall
The evening whisper of the wind
As it says Goodnight! to the pines –
Listening causes me to look
Seeing causes me to smile
Feeling causes me to
Open my window just a crack
So joy can find her way inside-
Do you hear the birds?
Do you see those trees?
Did you feel that breeze?
They may sound like
Unimportant things to ask
But what if those questions
Are the first notes in a
Song of hope for the one
Seeking a hand to hold
A few images from Rocky Mountain National Park today. š Soaking in each little bit.
Pale Purple
Securely wrapped
In the soft, pale
Purple of morning
There you stood
In green grass
Almost over your head-
I wasn’t sure if
Iād see you
Considering the coming
Season of change-
Changes in the name
Of progress, of course
Giving little consideration
To your home-
At the tree line’s edge
Your mom stands steady
Her gaze fixed
As your head tilts
And your ears perk
Curious about this
Big beautiful world-
She is still
While you explore
Both securely wrapped
In the soft, pale
Purple of morning
Piano Girl 