Sunlight and Shadows

Finding poetry in star dust, sunbeams, and passing clouds

Category: Nature

  • Paths to Keep

    The woods are dark and lone and deep

    The path so long that we must keep

    The tangled vines weave webs below

    The thorny stems and branches grow

    The thickets shut out light up high

    The ravens in the distance cry

    The darkness grows at every turn

    The vining leaves with poison burn

    The only choice is forward go

    Through woods so deep and dark and low

    The woods are not so dark and deep

    If only to the path we keep

    The vines protect the earth below

    Berries and fruits on branches grow

    Our eyes adjust to light up high

    Our ears hear ravens call not cry

    Our courage grows with every turn

    And in the distance now lights burn

    Because we chose to forward go

    Through woods so deep and dark and low

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  • Silence

    Rain pours down with silent splash

    Lightning strikes from cloud to ground

    But never does the thunder crash

    When silence is the only sound

    Traffic speeds by, buses stop

    Trains and semis shake the ground

    Without a rumble, honk or pop

    When silence is the only sound

    Children call but none is heard

    In the backyard, store, playground

    People look – can’t speak a word

    When silence is the only sound

    Woods and jungles running free

    Birds and animals all around

    Without the great cacophony

    When silence is the only sound

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  • Sunrise

    I came upon a lilac dawn

    Lake fog mist in purple wisps

    Trailing form of last night’s storm

    Melting away in gold sun’s ray

    Promising the hope of spring

    Dawn lingers in purple fingers

    Splashing light across the night

    Cotton swirled by clouds unfurled

    Breaking day to light from gray

    Promising the hope of spring

  • Rainy Day

    Pitter patter goes the rain on my umbrella

    Sniffing about the brave heart who ventured out

    To explore a new place today

    Splash goes the rain on my shoes, my legs

    Sneaking around the edges of my jacket

    To leave its mark on the moment

    Ripple goes the rain in the sidewalk puddles

    Toying with the distorted reflection of the world

    To prove the volatility of reality

    Prickle goes the rain on my cold, damp skin

    Running silvery paths down my fingertips

    To seek its next stop in life

  • Resolve

    A tiny plant, so new, so young

    Up from an inert seed has sprung

    It bravely breaks through crusty earth

    Its place in life won’t change its worth

    In garden or dump its voice is heard

    “With two perfect leaves, I’ll change the world”

    A careless shoe, so old, so worn

    Treads in oblivion or scorn

    One step it takes to crush the sprout

    That so much time took to bring out

    To phony safety that plant was lured

    To naively try to change the world

    A broken plant, so strong, so wise

    From trampled soil yet will rise

    It stands up brave with hope anew

    Faith still in what one plant can do

    With resolve that cannot be deferred

    In one small way it has changed the world

    ,

  • Free

    Possibility is walking on fresh sand

    Running between rain and blue sky

    Letting each drop of life soak in

    Smiling as the moments pass by

    Possibility is dew-covered rose buds

    The pristine silence of a first snow

    Rapturous moments of an ocean sunrise

    Intertwining of light and shadow

    Possibility is embracing the unknown

    Learning to live in discovery

    Opening, connecting to other people

    Possibility is permission to be free

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