Setting out, Sun reflects his light through trees bare of leaves, their limbs cast shadows on the road, like veins made visible they lay across the land connecting everything…shift.

Ahead, eyes focused forward, the larger picture is laid before me, the details in the distance dance out of bounds, only becoming clear when they wish for me to know them…shift.

Standing tall, rising to heed the call of the climb, I feel my breath and hear the beat of my heart keeping time with the turning of my feet. Adversity rides with me, he questions my confidence and fortitude without seeing I have made it this far before…shift.

Flying, only downward rather than up. My legs quickly turn, refreshed from the release of tension. The howling in my ears mixed with the rush of speed assures me I am alive…shift.

The winds refuse to ease, and they remind me of their promise to make me stronger. My body is slow, but steady is the rhythm, and my acceptance of the challenge rewards me…shift.

Behind me now is all that has been achieved. Turning home, Sun warms my shoulders as birds dart from bush to branch, asking me to stay. Shadows grow long while lingering clouds disappear giving way to Moon, her face pale in the hours before twilight…shift.

Out here, I am offered perspective. Beautifully, nature eases the effort of riding through life, shifting gears.

Holding me spellbound is the embrace of nature.

Rocks scatter and shape the banks of the river, whose rushing water plays like laughter, muffling all sound of the world in hectic pace.

Tumbling water is a beautiful teacher, with notes of what it means to flow, lessons in yielding to obstacles that impede movement and purpose.

Possessing grace of power it easily forges a new path, without concern that it has altered course. The new direction, the new way, allows it to continue on.

Cool air rises above the commotion of change, bathing my being with clean rejuvenation. I take long, deep breaths to load my lungs with freshness, my body with exhilaration.

Lifting my chin to face the sun while balancing on slick stones, the water edges nearer to my feet. I stoop to touch it and hold the coldness in my hand, fingers tingling. Both hands in, splashing the water on my face and cooling my cheeks.

I smile and stand with pause, the water is alive and shares with me its vitality, born of the elements and carried from infant streams high atop mountains. Humble beginnings grow and widen to a broader perspective.

This water knows only one way, the way forward. Yet from the rushes, small pools form among quiet coves, where water takes time to slow and rest.

My reflection is still, protected from waves that disturb the peace. No depth of thought, only solace.

From here, zen water gathers strength and momentum, to reemerge with vigor joining the river once more.

Squinting, gazing downstream, I see life continue on, dancing around rocks and skipping over sunken branches until the way forward fades and I no longer see what lies ahead, now trusting that where it goes I will find myself there.

The words of birds I do not understand

Yet, the songs they sing are familiar melodies

Of love and joy for seasons new, they lift their voice

To sing of today with fresh approach, yesterday is forgotten and no longer

With lilt and loft their lyrics reach me, easing the rise from sleep

The promise of morning, as dawn seems to linger, brings wings of color to my ear

When light becomes bright their voices fade to distant trees, through woods does the chorus sing softly

The awakening songs have given way to the day unfolding, and fetching seed for the young to feed they tend to the task with tune

Birds sing to say take not the day so stern, be light with thought and carry always joyful refrain

For each morning you can be, alive and free to sing songs of happiness

Through threads of budding twigs,
white air drifts against pale blue silk.
Twilight gathers her art,
to brush the dusk with strokes of sunset and notions of stars.
Amber etchings sketched with lavender haze
call evening to days done.
Dim of light,
night casts broad sweeps of deep violet and black,
darkness the canvas of ethereal features.