Open books at random
read
feel words
of solace and wonder.

I hold Chi ball
engraved soapstone, four
inside one
engraved of dragon and phoenix,
I turn circle of wonder
touch engravings
feel peace
now

sitting in my garden watching
hummingbirds flicker

serenity
feels
like the first epiphany in recovery —
discovery!  I never
have to use
again

______

meditation ritual
hold yinyang
marbles
smooth and cool
in my hands

trade them to
each finger, listening to clinking
clanking and silence
click, clank, silence

I watch
rufous-sided towhee
skipping
on forest floor finding
food for his children,

he was fed from this forest, when
it was his very first spring

______

the circle, return,
as birds do each spring.
arrival with new song
familiar to us
for six (eleven!) summers now
learned finally to listen
eleven summers now

goldfinch
lazuli bunting
grosbeak, purple finch
return each spring

they feed children from meadow
remember the forest
fed by their parents
they remember first spring

______

pine cone drops   almost silent,
gladiola force strong
leaves, as
delicate flowers
struggle toward the sky
shows hummingbird
sweet nectar
shows yellow bee
pollen
they remember first spring

______

Inside again, must post these great words I have
stumbled on
for the day
share with my family,
consistent the circle
through circle I wander

I remember each spring

______

midnight am discovered
asleep in my chair
husband tells me
“we can try to get you
online tomorrow
come warm the bed now”

______

Awake at 5:30
in cyberspace I wander
complete circle is life
through circle I wander

a great forest floor
I remember
first spring

through circle I wander
with acts of Tao passing

through Tao I wander
being fed from its
forest
I remember first spring