my heart swells as if

if it will burst from

my chest, spiraling

upward in the flawless

blue sky where it

will get a bird’s eye

view of the dazzling

redbud and cottony

Bradford pear, the

tiny green puffs on

budding tree limbs,

and the mighty James

as it journeys eastward.

Then it will flutter

down to peek at the 

petite grape hyacinths, 

tulips and daffodils,

the violets hiding in 

grass, and the hot pink 

flocks spilling down

the hill, all the while

accompanied by the

Carolina wren warbling

its “pretty, pretty, pretty.”

On this planet

people

are destroying

each 

other

as well as the 

earth and yet,

and yet,

there is still

such beauty 

and we must

relish it

while there

is time.

What does it mean 

when the Secretary

of Defense proclaims

“It takes money to kill 

bad guys.” Think about 

that. Think about that.

Billions of dollars to 

murder human beings,

sons, daughters, mothers,

fathers, sisters, brothers,

grandparents, friends.

Billions that could be

used to help survivors 

of tornadoes, of floods,

of hurricanes, people who

are hungry, people who

need medical attention,

schools that are falling

apart, the homeless.

“It takes money to kill

bad guys.” Think about

that. Think hard.

What about the greatest

commandment? What

about compassion?

What about kindness?

What about the belief

that each human being

is sacred? Consider that.

All night long tiny creatures

have been busy decorating

bushes, trees, and grass

with intricate designs now

highlighted by shafts of

sunlight for the early

morning walker’s delight.