Sweet Gum Autumn Began Like a Thunderstorm

The starry leaves of sweet gum

called down glory like meteors

like brilliant lights of heaven

raining down on our simple green world

like a mystery unsolved

and unsolvable

and perfectly magnificent

A Light Within Autumn Leaves

There is a light within autumn leaves
holding fast to days gone by

and lighting a way for days yet to be

When I can
I live within those leaves

Two Square Inches

I found two square inches

in the middle of a medium sized woods

in the middle of a fairly large city

and those two square inches contained

more beauty and

more information and

more details to explore

than I could have possibly imagined

or have time to finish examining

And then

I turned around and found

another two square inches

that was filled with

infinity

and I wondered what hope

I could possibly have to ever

understand and comprehend

more than

two square inches

And so

I embraced grace

rather than understanding

The Shadows

 

'Twas the final hour

ere the woods went dark

and the night promised no moon

the shadows lengthened

in tempo and shape

and his eyes were bleeding gloom

and yet he escaped

and returned to home

just to find the shadows did, too

The Just and the Unjust

TO be in the woods
when the thunderstorms come
is to experience the gradual silencing of the forest
as the deer and squirrels and birds
seek shelter
even while the thunder pounds;

TO be in the woods
when the thunderstorms come
is to hear the coming of the rain
before it lands
imperceptible at first
hitting leaves far above and away;

TO be in the woods
when the thunderstorms come
is to feel the false and god-like assurance that
even with the rain falling all around you
- you remain untouched!

And
if you are wise
you know that it is only a false assurance

Rescue

A damselfly flew into my car

and became trapped

A damselfly in distress

I rolled down my window and

she rescued herself

It's easier to rescue one's own self

when the doors are opened and

the windows rolled down 

The Rainy Paths

The rainy paths

the ones that threaten thunder

and warn the others away

the ones that turn to darkness

in the middle of the day...

These are the paths we may choose to take

for understanding and hope

for wisdom and grace

for infinite box turtles

and shocking black snakes

nearly hidden in the grass

until they're not