I sit on a wooden bench

at water’s edge, face lifting,

sun warming, Luna exploring,

pond shrinking, drought continuing.

Noticing new growth now exposed

to the light, sounds coming and

fading, the humming of a machine,

loud roaring of an unmuffled car,

Luna panting, twigs snapping,

dragon fly buzzing.

I sit in stillness and

feel a rush of gratitude

for this place, this moment,

this body, this bench, this dog.

Waves go in, waves go out,

Sea gulls fly over,

Clouds heap up like meringue,

Children laugh and adults smile.

Luna sniffs her way along water’s edge,

Timid at first, then a bit braver.

So many new sights and smells,

So much gratitude for what this world offers.

And yet somewhere, someone

Is thinking about shooting innocents

to satisfy a growing loneliness,

a burning hatred of all who differ.

Leaders across the globe heap blame,

never taking accountability for what

their ugly words might awaken

in the dark depth of their followers.

And yet, a woman sees a flyer in Starbucks

That inspires her to give

A kidney to a stranger.

Waves go in, waves go out.

Waves go in, waves go out.