Lake Seven

Rowing slowly, no destination
Circling the lake margin
Cattails, white water lilies, spatterdock
Garter snake swimming by
Yellowthroats, tanager, vireos singing
Light breeze, cloud reflections lead us
To meditative quiet and absorbing beauty.
There are surely other tasks trying to
Call us away.
But we were "here", for a while.
Now and then, when I am open,
I am brought to the right place.

walked here

Visited the dark water

and the place where lowland dwellers live
at the edge of the forest,

where wetland touches it,

broad-winged hawk sailed over

ignoring what humans have to say.

But I will not ignore the broad-wing
she is my teacher.

She and her forest/wetland mosaic

are teaching me that I lose/my understanding is insufficient

if I do not INCLUDE ALL AS EQUALS.

deeply troubled by overt cruelty

Reminded about the callous treatment of wild creatures for profit (http://futureofbirds.blogspot.com/2014/02/illegal-trade-in-wildlife.html  -- very similar to human trafficking) has left me deeply troubled.

edge of marsh

Evening surface of wetland's water is silk-like
I stand in quiet awe
Nearby are myriad lifeforms
My practice is to be here
Paying attention.

Anne LaBastille

many steps

The road I traveled was a springtime road
A bird-rich road
A road of thirst.
But it was road rich in lessons, not the lessons I expected.
The lessons taught me to value other gifts,
Not the gifts I thought I knew. Gifts of help,
Gifts of time, gifts especially of
Conversation and connection.
Now I need to remember this new knowledge.
I am still traveling this road - perhaps I always will be.