Early, this silent earth
in the stillness before sound comes
before the sky, the narrow line of light that forms
my ears not yet attuned to this world
search for noise, waiting for the first bird
then soon a chiming bell of birds
a cactus wren that comes to drink of sun
or deeply sweet, the air with mourning doves
that woo and coo before the dawn
a soothing balm, a bliss that fills my head

This valley, belly and backboned
a blanket of snow - stitched and gone
textured trees, willows wind blown
here where an early moon heaven still hovers
here amid the last smoking sky of cold
a chirping of morning birds unfolds
singing a gleeful goodbye to the moon night
winging before the sunrise
the blooming of daffodil springtime
and too, wisteria tangled vines will climb
reach for the calm of violet skies.

It is nothing hard to find
to be the stillness inside
the slowing of time
sink into the tranquil divine
the drift and melt away
of mind

It is nothing you cannot know
the unwinding slow, the softening of soul
the water trickle, splash and sparkle

It is something worthwhile
to let the moment be
swallowed by the sea
to be the shore, to sit and wait
ever at the gate of the unknown

The final blue hours of day
the falling to your sway
the mad of reason slipping away
under the pale moon, of night's dawn
with stars all strung, you'll come
so soon to taste, to kiss me
a crushing fire, to quench
to melt, to take me