The sun hits
The tree tops
Like foamy crests
On ocean waves
All white and
Rolling as the
Sun moves higher
Into the sky
Tree trunks lean
Like firewood against
Each other and
Oh the smell
Of earth bathes
My nostrils there
A damp coolness
Like a refrigerator
Door opening in
July on the
Forest floor as
Dew streaks all
The car windows
Cardinals sing from
Bushes and treetops
Calling their forever
Mate that’s bobbing
From line to
Post like a
Telegraph message morning
Hasn’t arrived though
You can see
It’s puffs of
Yellow like a
Steam locomotive just
Beyond the hill
As no more
Than a thousand
Crickets coming off
Third shift wish
A warm goodnight
In life and
Love we often
Run away from
What we are
And choose what
We are not
Eventually both catch
Up with us
Surrendering we fall
Defeated but just
Until our heart
Takes its first
Full deep breath
At long last
Alive
This morning I
Sat outside after
The rain suddenly
I felt a
Drop of water
Hit my sleeve
At first perplexed
I looked up
To see nothing
Eventually more drops
Arrived and I
Began to anger
But move I
Did not anger
Turned to acquiescence
Turned to acceptance
That I was
Meant to be
Wet that day
So goes love
So goes life
And a bird
Brought back a
Branch filled with
Leaves like a
Talisman of peace
Bringing hope to
The sailor on
The open sea
There’s something there
Beyond his sight
It wasn’t land
But hope hope
That he’s finally
Found a place
To anchor down
And sailed he
Did until he
Stopped and declared
This is home
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 