Rose and Poppy

 

-------Rose and Poppy-------

 

When I fall to thinking 

I am not enough

 

I imagine 

the rose and poppy

 

And encouraged 

by the presence 

 

Of love's 

abundance

 

I rise 

like a flower in spring.

 

-------

Ros'e Argende

 

-------Ros'e Argende-------

 

I heard 

a song 

today

 

An old song

from the old country

 

It sounded like wind 

and spoke 

of longing

 

Though I did not 

know the words

 

My body became 

a field of poppy

and wheat

 

And for a moment

that was the forever of this song

 

Time lost 

itself 

in me

 

And we circled 

together

 

Back

and around

and forth again

 

Untethered

in the wind.

 

-------

 

The Warmth of You

 

-------The Warmth of You-------

 

Like the Beech trees

who hold their leaves

through Winter

 

The warmth of you 

 

Does not fade 

with absence

 

But carries 

me

 

Fearless

 

Until nighttime

joins us

in a dream.

 

-------

Many Ways

 

-------Many Ways-------

 

There are as many ways 

to be a person

as there are people

in this world.

 

To honor all that makes us different

makes us all

together 

whole.

 

-------

Leaves on Wind

 

-------Leaves on Wind-------

 

I take 

great care

while splitting wood

 

To remember the tree

and forest

 

And hold the prayer

of leaves on wind

 

Through winter

aside 

the fire.

 

-------

Need Not Know

 

-------Need Not Know-------

 

One need 

not be 

a botanist

 

Nor know 

their names by heart

 

To admire the trees

and their changing 

leaves

 

And give ourselves

to wonder.

 

-------

De-Composition

 

-------De-Composition-------

 

When the leaves

start falling

 

I too

 

Come close 

with death

 

With the invitation

to live my joy

 

And nourish 

the Earth

 

Someday

 

With all the light

I gather.

 

-------

Genesis

 

-------Genesis-------

 

Never gone

is the leaf

who falls

 

From an oak 

tree's branch

in autumn.

 

Back to earth

and our sweet

return

 

Come springtime

into 

flowers.

 

-------

Simple Things

 

-------Simple Things-------

 

The fields we tend

are filled 

with fruit

 

And those

with seeds abundant.

 

The simple things

in life 

I find

 

Are often

the most profound.

 

-------

Memory

 

-------Memory-------

 

The smell of Rosemary

and Garlic 

and Sage

 

Brings me home

beyond 

the kitchen

 

To the land

that I

come from.

 

-------

As the Wind Blows

 

-------As the Wind Blows-------

 

Everyday

another leaf

turns

from green

to gold

 

As the wind 

blows in

an invitation

and opportunity

for changing.

 

-------

On the Far

 

-------On the Far-------

 

Getting close 

with grief

 

Like a golden leaf

 

On the far 

edge of Autumn

 

Bends

the line

 

Of linear time

 

And reminds me 

life is round.

 

-------

The Making Of

 

-------The Making Of-------

 

The kind 

of hope

that I 

believe in

 

Is not the hope

of wait 

and see

 

But

the kind

that asks

our presence

 

In the making of 

what we want

to be.

 

-------

Deciduous

 

-------Deciduous-------

 

Balanced 

between 

the edges 

of a dream

 

And the forest that is 

this world 

we live in

 

I trust my 

self

like a leaf

to falling

 

And the mystery awaiting

our return

to earth.

 

-------

As Well

 

-------As Well-------

 

The brilliance 

of Autumn

is in the leaves

 

Changing 

and inviting

us all to change

 

As we,

as well,

behold the many,

 

Different

and beautiful 

colors.

 

-------

Shape Me

-------Shape Me-------

 

From the 

company 

of Cedar and Fir

 

I return to the Hickory,

to the Maples and the Oak

of my home 

 

Where the land 

has shaped me

like it has the trees

 

And rain drops 

make music 

on the leaves.

 

-------

Clear

 

-------Clear-------

 

On a clear day

I can recognize 

the flowers

 

Growing

among what I once thought 

as weeds.

 

A peace 

of mind 

is common ground

 

Where all 

find welcome 

and all belong.

 

-------