Friend

Today there was a Pine Siskin in one of the bird baths.

On a whim I slowly walked over to it to see how close I could get.

I talked to it as I approached it welcoming it to the garden.

When I saw it was unafraid of me I slowly held my hand out and slid it right underneath it. Very easily shifting it from the edge of the bird bath into my palm.

It sat in my hand calmly for about 15 seconds and then flew off.

There was no fear in me and no fear that I sensed in it.

What I felt was utter acceptance that this was where we are.

We share this space together.

Sap

This is stillness

I close my eyes.

I face the sun

And breathe

Deep.

Phoebe calls

Pine warbler trills

Cardinal song fills all other space.

Winter

Still drifts close to the ground.

Air will rise 

Higher 

As Earth rotates

And revolves

Reflecting the light

Of the sun

A little more closely

Each moment

Warming everything

A little more

Turning ever onwards

In the journey...

I close my eyes

I breathe deeply

I absorb

The light 

Of the sun

On my skin.

I am alive.

With the Towhees song

Morning

Has

Risen.

This

Is

Stillness. 

Rubrum

When I was in college these flowers among many other small flowers stole my heart.

They never give a great show.

They are humble little plants. They

hide are under the bigger more showy plants in the shade.

And yet, every year just like they did so many years ago when they finally burst with these little pink blooms they stop me and invite me to bend down each day and enjoy them for the very short time they bloom.

Epimedium Rubrum