Sun sparkled on the water as I surveyed king tide waves at Bodega Head on my fiftieth birthday. I asked Higher Power what I should focus on this mile-marker of a year. A delightful series of images and ideas rolled in with the waves.
Observe, write, create. Send it out like petals on the wind.
So at 6:30 AM, in that spirit, here is a poem I wrote during the winter break.
Love Notes
Why do words matter?
When I started all this teaching, writing, singing,
I braced, crouched to pounce
in response.
I could put on a show with my
youth, volume, sometimes
desperate need.
Deep down, I was disturbed
at the violence
of the question.
Why should anyone stop-
listen to morning rain,
notice the black bird
at the coast with white-tipped neck
feathers and iridescent
body?
If you don't know why,
I cannot help you
but will pray that
both of us
do not accidentally
throw out the love note
God left in our
lunchbox with the
trash.