Tag Archives: nature

On My Drive Today

I saw a tractor throwing dark earth, and
A field of cosmos—pink, purple, white.
I saw a hedge, large and tall and perfectly green, notched at the top like a castle,
And a grave with balloons on it.
I saw a small, black travel bus with the words “my party bus”
In chunky white letters across one end.

Rows of perfectly spaced deciduous trees at a nursery wore fall colors, and
Weeds decorated the aisles between.
Neon-green skeletons perched on a wire fence,
And a navy-blue Tesla followed me for miles.
I crossed a mirror-still river,
And passed under two branches, touching
Like outstretched fingertips above me.

I saw tractor-crossing signs, deer-crossing signs, political signs, and
Line after line of baby trees and shrubs, only a foot tall,
Every shadow in perfect formation across groomed dirt rows.
I saw horses swishing their tails,
And clouds, dressed for a slumber party.

I saw metal buildings, colored by rust, and
Old, wooden farm buildings painted rust-red.
I saw a stream in an overgrown meadow,
Water profuse with delicate, floating plants.
I saw pumpkins combed into rows—no vines, just orange fruit for acres,
And the long shadows of a fall afternoon.

Slugs

Slugs

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for spotted slugs,
fat and sticky,
slow and steady.

Blessed are You
for measured slither,
like slow-motion snakes,
leaving moisture on rocks,
strings of slime on sticks and leaves,
sensing with eyestalks—
reach forward, shrink back.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for mantled slugs,
who live their adventures
one inch at a time,
knowing only what is
at the tips of their tiny tentacles—
a life of quiet trust.

He Brought Me to His Banqueting Table

He Brought Me to His Banqueting Table

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for celebration—
a handshake
or handmade card,
a hatful of money
or armful of flowers.

Blessed are You
for birthday parties
and white elephant gifts,
balloon bouquets
and long-stemmed roses,
graduation caps
and dance recitals,
fireworks, hot dogs,
folks gathered together.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for water drops on flower petals,
rainbows and radiant children.
Birdcalls announce morning,
crickets herald evening,
wordless celebration,
sun setting, moon rising,
Your banner over me is
love.