Simple Gifts and Magical Moments

Instead of woods and wilderness I walk the shores of a city park. Nature brings a thrill As the Sound is turbulent. Dark water and white froth Tussle against the shore, Energized by storm surge. As I watch the water A black and shiny back Smoothly emerges, So unexpected I stare in disbelief, Expecting it to turn into a wave. Instead it arcs back down Sliding gracefully below. Only then do I exclaim wordlessly and point Even though the moment has passed. I finally splutter out "Whale!" Disbelief churns like the water. We stare intensely And then… Spray plumes up, The whale's breath Takes away The collective breath Of human spectators. Glimpses of fins, The elusive Orcas Spout and surface Choppy waves simmer – With a stew pod of whales.

The air hangs heavy And my body aches With sympathy. The pressure creates Intense desire For release. The tension is tangible. Sweat clings to my body. The clouds hang bloated Making the day Dim and uncertain. My skin prickles, A shuddering breath Then tumultuous rain. Release comes. With a violent clash Of light and sound

At a safe distance She stood and watched The waterfall pulse With life and energy. The spray, slipped Around and in, Damp inside Drab clothes, Isolating her In gray mist. Water punished Rock and earth, Ripping away bits. Her body thrummed. The power, Insistent and restless, Pushed branches, Her hair and clothes. She shivered, Still and silent As the Falls spoke Her screams.

The sun slaps, Morning bright, Against the side Of the mountain. Where green trees Normally drape, Heavy and dull, Across rounded shoulders, Champagne colored veils Shimmer and entice. Flashing her sinuous flanks, The mountain stretches. The sun dances away, Taking away glory As morning moves to day.

You learn to recognize her moods. Sometimes she is soft and gentle. Her touch slides across you, Soothing and calm. She sings a lullaby, As she wraps around you, Covering you with with her embrace. Other times she sparkles. Her voice chortles. Her dance is sinuous and enticing, But her coolness makes you wary, And you keep your distance. Today she is swollen and heavy. She wraps herself in veiling fog, But demands attention. She slaps you with cold power, Barely contained. No one can ignore her.

We, who are civilized, like to idealize and sanitize Nature However, birth is a bloody, painful process that can end in sorrow and suffering. Death isn't always quick and painless like my childhood nature shows proclaimed. Natures glory is not always green or gold. Ask the farmer or the logger if Nature is gentle. Mud and muck, snot and slime, Nature can be a stern and unforgiving mother. The fetid odor of putrification and eutrification Is as much her perfume as roses and spring breezes. Today, I looked at the ruler straight snow line on the mountain. The trees above stood out bright and strong against the twilight sky. It reminded me of a winter display found in the shopping mall. Perhaps I should be comforted by the sign of order and beauty, But I felt uncertain and distant and longed for Natures intimacy.

October Is the month Of depression. It leaves me Swollen with emotion, Dark and crumbling, Like a rain soaked Rotten log. There are moments though, Crisp and bright, When the leaves dance And the trees whisper. My spirit stirs, Remembering That as a child I laughed And chased the wind. Breathing the musk Of autumn, Full of emotion and memory, I embrace the change.

I believe in sadness and joy. I believe in hope and fear. I believe in success and failure. I believe, Therefore I am. I am emotional, Determined and insecure Stubborn and proud. I believe in biology. I believe in genetics. I believe in chemistry. I believe that Nature versus nurture. That is the question. It is not nobler To suffer the slings and arrows Of outrageous moods. Clumsiness is inevitable The different drummer Didn’t chose a different beat She had no rhythm. I believe there are things we will not overcome. I believe there are things we will not change. I believe there are things we will not accept. I believe that Life is not fair. If at first you don’t succeed, you may never succeed. Terrible things happen. And the idea that God Doesn’t give you more than you can handle Is ridiculous and judgmental. I believe in God. I believe in choices. I believe in reality. I believe There is a god. Not an all powerful God, Who directs life like a puppeteer. But a God both distant and dea...

Warm sun’s firm embrace Cool breeze caresses my face Rustling leaves whisper, “shush” Highlighted green, deep and lush Dappled light that shifts and moves Bugs buzz and bird song soothes Day wraps and holds me tight My body rests my soul takes flight.

Long and firm But giving way, Towards forest floor The fir tree splays - Tall no more. Dark and brown And mossy green, Soft decay A fallen dream. Broken down And gone astray, Massive roots Given way. Worms and beetles Feast and feed, Scuttle and chew In desperate need. Survival The forest creed. Death belongs - It's Nature's seed.

I write my name In the sand And watch the wind Blow the letters away. Alone on the beach I'm out of reach My head whistles The breeze blows Passing though, Leaving me, More empty Than I began. I drift My sleeves flutter The waves mutter Sand scrapes Nothing remains.

Notes of music Fall into my soul Beating Against the hard Compact surface Running off In a flood Of emotion. The cracked surface Resists repels And then drinks Sucking greedily, Needing more. Never enough. The soul softens, Expands, New life. Reaching for more Beginning In a song. Cascading rhythms Refresh The parched landscape.

I love, The sound of the waves, Strong but subtle. The feel of the sand between my toes. Warm. The birds, so many species of birds. Bright and dull. Watching the water splash and shape. Light. Being able to walk and walk and walk. The smell. They way Coal gets crazy, like a pup. Butt wag. Sniffing the tide line then trotting up to the water Cautious and perky. Afraid of the waves but loving the cool. No swimming! He always has to taste the ocean water, Still salty. I love all the interesting things you can find, Bits of stories And the way it always changes. I love the peace.

Some geese flew by today Heading off on their migrational way. A storm blew and the fir trees shook I paused to take a wondering look. Without a doubt Autumn was here But what I saw gave me a twinge of fear. The wind it blew so very strong It seemed their flight path had gone wrong That flock of geese they blew off course Their honks of dismay even sounded hoarse To the East they blew in a broken vee And then no forward progress at all could I see The distant flock fell apart all together They could not withstand the horrible weather. And my stomach, it had started to churn They have only so much energy to burn One big storm can destroy them all Was that to be the case this Fall? I watched and hoped and looked away I couldn’t face more of Nature’s display Nature is my greatest thrill But I have always known that it could chill. Some geese flew overhead today And their struggle, it filled me with dismay.

Snoqualmie smooth and softly pink Colors swirling with sunset’s ink Autumn trees and winters cool Mallards swimming in your pool. River rocks and Siren’s song In your embrace, I belong.

I have seen a lone tree sing, As it belly-danced in the wind, In a field in early spring. I have heard coyotes yip Their voices only, surrounding me On an ordinary hiking trip. I have listened to frogs Their voices a million strong Creation started with pollywogs. I have looked in the eyes Of a small and fearless red fox A shared moment of surprise. I have walked along the river path The sound of water flowing and rain patter A wet and musical bath. I have stopped in my tracks For a small pink leaf in a puddle of mud Its beauty unique although its setting lacks. I have sat still on a rock as night slowly fell. My dog’s nose twitching, my human ears straining, Sight giving way, to sound and smell And taking flight from a tree An owl turned its head 180 degrees To look back at me. Magic moments filled with grace Life’s simple pleasure or God’s gifts These are the things I choose to embrace.

Fat cat pacing in my lap Demanding attention Your tail going slap. Silly cat biting my thumb, Impossible for me to ignore, So heavy my legs will go numb. Soft cat I hear your purr OK, I’ll stop writing And stroke your smooth fur.