An opossum came calling last night.
Unfortunately, my dog answered the call.

He has a thing about opossums in his yard
and it’s not a very nice thing.

After some discussion, he agreed to go back inside.
And I was left to assess the scene.

Walking up to the rumpled opossum,
it looked like the story would end here.
But there was something […]

‘Merry’ or ‘Happy’ does not fully reflect
all that is present during holidays.
‘Joy’ is closer, with its arms wide open reach
that delights in happiness and bright new faces
but does not turn […]

Just before sunrise this fine winter morning
the familiar stars of Orion shimmer,
with his belt and his sword,
keeping watch over the night sky.

It’s quiet now, a hushed silence before daybreak.
Dappled clouds promise a sunrise
graced with shades of pink and orange
and the particular lavender of winter skies.

We slowly grow accustomed to darkness
this time of year.
Better to accept […]

For the peace and promise of a sunrise.
The quickening of breath that comes
when we take in the beauty of our surroundings.

For the mystery and humility
of daring to see how we are all connected.

For the opportunity, over and over again,
to choose joy.

For waking up every day to the unknown
and the courage to walk into that day.

For […]

When all you can see is a world relentless in its harshness
may you be wrapped in the beauty of a gentle autumn day.

When it feels like we shall never find understanding
may you lay down upon this earth, on soft, solid ground
look up at a sky filled with wonder
feel the ground beneath you
and recall how wholly […]

It’s time.
Time to return to the peace of a true night sky,
where stars smile down with cold, yet welcoming, eyes.
Time to go where sounds matter, where distant sight informs.
Where my senses can safely and surely expand
beyond my carefully constructed civilian walls.

Too long among human dwellings,
I shrink from the constant barrage.
The endless noise that rattles forth
from […]

By all that you deem holy
find something blooming
on this early September day.

Hunt, if you have to, for blooms of purple
or the lavender of dawn.
Seek out bursts of sun gold
or soft yellow, glowing in daylight.

Whatever you find,
greet these fine beauties
with the respect and reverence they deserve.

Get down low,
head on the ground if necessary,
until you can see […]

Small wonders happen every day–
the kind we assume,
like waking from sleep
or the sun rising and setting,
and the kind that surprise us,
like the unexpected phone call
or the shock of color in the garden
on a summer morning.

Small enough to go unnoticed
bright enough to feel abundant.

I’m not so sure there are “big” wonders,
maybe just a […]

We watched a hummingbird buzz around, then land on her nest.
A nest so small there is zero chance we would have seen it otherwise.
A tiny cup of lichen and probably dog hair woven together by spider webs,
soft and expandable to accommodate growing chicks.
A miracle, plain and simple.
And that’s before they fly 4000 miles to their […]

There’s a moment in spring
where everything seems to pause, just briefly.

It’s as if the season takes one big inhale
and then spring thunders in
with its special shades of green
and bright colors dotting the dull brown landscape.

We two-leggeds feel this in our bones
breathing with spring
brimming with anticipation.
Ready to emerge from winter’s grip
we shed layers, and not just […]