Emerging tightly coiled,
fiddlehead fern gently
responds to the light of
the sun whose warmth
beckons it to unfurl
and release to the world.
(photos taken in woods behind my house)
Opening to Life
Category Archives: meditation
Surprises
In the dead of winter no one would
suspect that out of an old tree trunk
smothered with vines, a branch
of new beauty would emerge.
Pay attention to those of us now
covered with spots and wrinkles.
Perhaps we too have something
worth noticing, something that
may amaze and delight you!
A Winter Day
sun
helps
pond
show
off
new
coat
of
ice
Aging
Ripples of time
are moving me
closer, closer
to the edge where
mystery abounds.
A Snowy Morning
Up at dawn, ski pants, snow
boots, mittens and warmest
coat found and pulled on
and a vest for Miss Luna.
We are the first to venture
out into the world of white.
And when we stop, the
total stillness, the silence
is there, always there.
Luna off leash prances
ahead, often looking back
to ensure I am still there.
I take baby steps to cross
the wooden bridge over
the creek listening to the
crunch of my boots. I see
bare branches transformed
into works of art. A gaggle
of geese is huddled on the
shore and mirrored on
the pond making two
rows until our presence
causes them to waddle
into the water and swim
away. Our prints in the
pristine snow take me
back to childhood when
my brother and I rushed
to be the first out, laughing
as we lay down in the snow
to make our snow angels.
Today I intentionally halt,
and it’s the silence, the hush,
the utter stillness, the beauty,
the sense of something more
that fills me with gratitude and joy.
Autumn Morning
On a perfect autumn morning
when the air is clean and crisp,
mist slowly moves toward the light,
blurring the mirror image of trees
glimpsed on the surface of the pond.
We Must Hope
When hatred and retribution
are the order of the day,
out front my lilies bloom
in red, orange, yellow, and peach.
When university presidents are
pushed out for what they believe,
my dog’s fur remains soft
and her ears ever so silky.
When people yearning for
a better life are arrested,
my air conditioner keeps us
cool on a 100+ degree day.
While people are dying in
Gaza, Iran, Israel, and Ukraine,
I see turtles sunning themselves
at the edge of the pond.
When past presidents
are called “stupid,”
children are laughing and
playing around the world.
When vaccines are deemed
unnecessary and harmful,
doctors and nurses continue
to speak up for their efficacy.
When sycophants bow down
to a bully of a leader,
People peacefully protest
at “No Kings” rallies.
At this distressing time
in our history, we must
hold on to hope and beauty,
and speak truth to power.
Choosing a Path
What path do you choose today?
Will your actions matter?
Will you choose to immerse
yourself in the news or
do some small act of
kindness? Will you choose
to spend time hating
those in power or
feeling the love of family
and friends? Will you
choose to appreciate
the white dogwoods in
the woods, the blackberry
bushes, and the copper
ajuga blooms, or will you
notice the potholes in the road
and the unpainted fences?
Each day, the path we choose
matters, each and every action,
small or large, matters.
Inspired by Carrie Newcomer’s post Clearing a Path.
When I Die
When I die,
I want to let go
and float away
as serenely
and gracefully
as the falling
leaves in autumn,
uncomplaining
yet curious,
surrendering
to the eternal
circle of life.
August Mornings
Mist covers the pond
like a giant’s breath
on a cool August morning,
a morning that is a gift
after hot humid days.
And then it effortlessly lifts
to allow the sun its show.
On a hot humid morning,
dragon flies dart around
plants by the lake,
blue wings flashing, and
tree frogs chatter away while
water nibbles at pond’s edge.
New sweet gum leaves
poke up from the roots of an
old tree and bees hum in
a hollow trunk; pine needles
are strewn across the path,
washed in piles by the recent rain.
White button weed hides in the
grass and I almost miss it.
I try to be present, but it’s a challenge.
untangling the web 