We all have our favorites.
They're a quick answer when we need a smile
or a deep breath.
A backup for our imaginations when life is too hard.
I can retreat into images
Of sunlight filtering through maple leaves
-my favorite shade of my favorite color-
or the rush of a heavy rain
-my favorite sound-
or a lawn covered in autumn leaves
-my favorite smell-
and suddenly the thoughts my mind kicked up
have settled like the autumn leaves
when the October breeze dies down.