Well, in the chaos of ending school in a building where I've taught for 21 years and packing to move into a brand new space, along with preparing to ride in the Trek Across Maine - this poem emerged over the past week or so. It came gently and in phases. I carried it in my pocket in its various stages all week and in the quiet of the weekend I think it has now reached completion. It's a bit longer than what I usually write, but I think that's because a whole lot of things came together in this one - an effect of reaping the harvest of a great deal of very hard and important work.Be
Dark and light, day and night,
shades of gray in between.
Colors of the spectrum,
limitless hues of eclectic energy.
Waltzing grasses in a spring-green field,
frolicking waters of a woodland brook,
billowing clouds that throb and pulsate-
part of a cycle as old as time.
Twinkling snowscape lit by the orb
as it rises above the hills.
Majestic eagle circling, pondering,
connecting as he searches for
whatever he needs.
Slippery sun setting over the horizon,
sky awash with lively light.
Natural world revolving around
and through us as we live, breathe,
be.
Spouses sharing a contented, joyful look as they marvel
at the antics of their precious offspring.
Enlightened mother enfolding her baby
with protection, acceptance, love.
Sympathetic friend listening, lending
support as emotions spill over rocky banks.
Little boy, tear forming in the corner of his eye,
sweetly sharing his feelings of fairness.
Tiny girl, whose fear surfaces from beyond
her knowing, gathering her breath to move on.
Caring adult choosing to be present and honor
who they are at that time in that space.
Moments of our lives unfurl, unravel,
move one into the other as we live, breathe, feel
be.
Do we notice? Are we aware?
Or do magical moments escape us in the
busy-ness of everyday living?
Ocean waves break and roll onto
a sugar sand beach, spread themselves thin
as they explore the nooks and crannies of what
holds them up.
Their molecules seem to fill every void,
some going to ground while others are
pulled back into the waters at large.
Either way, they are part of a whole.
Solitary, yet integrated.
If we look – up, down, all around -
If we pause and
choose to notice, be aware,
we can capture
the magical moments that are so abundant
in the busy-ness of everyday living
as we live, breathe, feel, immerse,
be.
Dark and light, day and night,
shades of gray in between.
Colors of the spectrum,
limitless hues of eclectic energy.
Waltzing grasses in a spring-green field,
frolicking waters of a woodland brook,
billowing clouds that throb and pulsate-
part of a cycle as old as time.
Twinkling snowscape lit by the orb
as it rises above the hills.
Majestic eagle circling, pondering,
connecting as he searches for
whatever he needs.
Slippery sun setting over the horizon,
sky awash with lively light.
Natural world revolving around
and through us as we live, breathe,
be.
Spouses sharing a contented, joyful look as they marvel
at the antics of their precious offspring.
Enlightened mother enfolding her baby
with protection, acceptance, love.
Sympathetic friend listening, lending
support as emotions spill over rocky banks.
Little boy, tear forming in the corner of his eye,
sweetly sharing his feelings of fairness.
Tiny girl, whose fear surfaces from beyond
her knowing, gathering her breath to move on.
Caring adult choosing to be present and honor
who they are at that time in that space.
Moments of our lives unfurl, unravel,
move one into the other as we live, breathe, feel
be.
Do we notice? Are we aware?
Or do magical moments escape us in the
busy-ness of everyday living?
Ocean waves break and roll onto
a sugar sand beach, spread themselves thin
as they explore the nooks and crannies of what
holds them up.
Their molecules seem to fill every void,
some going to ground while others are
pulled back into the waters at large.
Either way, they are part of a whole.
Solitary, yet integrated.
If we look – up, down, all around -
If we pause and
choose to notice, be aware,
we can capture
the magical moments that are so abundant
in the busy-ness of everyday living
as we live, breathe, feel, immerse,
be.
Sarah Carlson
June 7, 2011
