Along the roadside
overgrown grass, green
carpeted with discarded dots;
soda cans, McDonalds hamburger wrappers
lots of other windblown trash
she sits
as though incubating a new life.
She looks constantly about
this lone goose, an alien from Canada
having plenty of relatives dotting
the landscape
familiar sights
nuisances
to lawns, golf courses,
frequent crossing against
local traffic,
they’re often injured, killed
by impatient drivers off to work, to shop, or
home. She sits alone
waiting. I’ve passed her for the
last month seeing her patience
as she waits in the same spot he
left her. She waits for this
lifelong mate to return. How does it
feel, the waiting? The loneliness?
What hope could possibly feed the vigilance?
How long does it take before one
gives up the vigil and concludes he
never will return?
Cab she ever imagine a new
plan for her life?
Could she be courageous enough to
Move-geographically, emotionally?
I wonder if there are other geese who
Stop by to give encouragement, some giving
Reports of shared sightings of the lost mate?
Simple irritating goose
Along the roadside
Raising so many life issues, speaking
Deeply to human hearts a prophetic
Questioning word from the creator.
Richard W Smith
April 18, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Surprise
The wooded path
softly curved and
led around corners
among trees
all the time a
gentle puff of breeze
swayed the grass
and caused the flowers
fragrance to infect the
air, the vacuum of silence, as we
walked lightly and
then we turned
one more corner.
A startled speckled
fawn looked up from
her breakfast amazed to
see these alien creatures
her large brown eyes darting
from face to face
trying to make sense
of her revelation. She
decided after the silent moment
maybe it’s time
to leave and swiftly glided
through the woods and bushes off
the pathway and back
to home and safety.
So it happens to each of us
All the time- serendipity
and then, in our minds,
back to safety!
Richard W Smith
April 21, 2011
softly curved and
led around corners
among trees
all the time a
gentle puff of breeze
swayed the grass
and caused the flowers
fragrance to infect the
air, the vacuum of silence, as we
walked lightly and
then we turned
one more corner.
A startled speckled
fawn looked up from
her breakfast amazed to
see these alien creatures
her large brown eyes darting
from face to face
trying to make sense
of her revelation. She
decided after the silent moment
maybe it’s time
to leave and swiftly glided
through the woods and bushes off
the pathway and back
to home and safety.
So it happens to each of us
All the time- serendipity
and then, in our minds,
back to safety!
Richard W Smith
April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Fragrance of the Divine Presence
I missed again…
proven by the empty room;
hollow sounding, nothing but a
fragrance
hinting at the Divine’s
lingering presence, the
odor of the depths,
silences, darkness, the
unknown life-
a tease for me to continue
on to the next room-
exploring creation’s house
room by room if need be
pursuing the elusive
shy center of reality known
only by absence, felt only by
breezes and rain, heard only by
whispers and echoes, seen only by
darkness’s light, a sideways glance.
No footsteps reverberate, no
footprints impression, no
tossed jacket over a
scrapping chair-
only a table holds reminders
of hope, anticipations,
urges, magnetic lines embracing
and encompassing us,
(although breaking free is easy)
Moving quickly day to day
covered by daylight and
moonlight-scampering for a
glance of fabric, a hint of color
to clinch this hunch that One
is over all and within all and
around all pressing, inviting
energizing and holding
lovely life.
Richard W Smith,
April 18, 2011
proven by the empty room;
hollow sounding, nothing but a
fragrance
hinting at the Divine’s
lingering presence, the
odor of the depths,
silences, darkness, the
unknown life-
a tease for me to continue
on to the next room-
exploring creation’s house
room by room if need be
pursuing the elusive
shy center of reality known
only by absence, felt only by
breezes and rain, heard only by
whispers and echoes, seen only by
darkness’s light, a sideways glance.
No footsteps reverberate, no
footprints impression, no
tossed jacket over a
scrapping chair-
only a table holds reminders
of hope, anticipations,
urges, magnetic lines embracing
and encompassing us,
(although breaking free is easy)
Moving quickly day to day
covered by daylight and
moonlight-scampering for a
glance of fabric, a hint of color
to clinch this hunch that One
is over all and within all and
around all pressing, inviting
energizing and holding
lovely life.
Richard W Smith,
April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Robin in the Way
Friday morning I was walking our dog, Big Mac, as I have been doing each morning for nearly twelve years. Mac is a Westie (his picture's on this blog home page). As we crossed the nieghborhood street going towards the tiny local stream I noticed a lot of Robins.
Some Robins were in a tree, maybe a dozen of them, some were walking along the grass beneath the tree, and then there was one standing in the middle of the sidewalk. These birds were well fed and loud.
Mac was busy sniffing and not payng much attention to the birds. But I was attracted to this one Robin who stayed in the center of the sidewalk. The bord looked right up at me, almost trying to stare me down. I decided he/she would probably fly off when I got a little closer. Which the Robin didn't do. The bird stood his/her ground and watched me closely, almost defiantly. Mac still didn't notice anything.
As I came up to him I flinched (like in a game of Chicken) and the Robin stood still while I walked around him/her on the grass and Mac continued, unawares, in hsi scenting project for the morning. I looked back in a few feet and there was the Robin, turned around, eyes glued to my back (now front). I'm guessing this bird was the leader of the flock!!!
Some Robins were in a tree, maybe a dozen of them, some were walking along the grass beneath the tree, and then there was one standing in the middle of the sidewalk. These birds were well fed and loud.
Mac was busy sniffing and not payng much attention to the birds. But I was attracted to this one Robin who stayed in the center of the sidewalk. The bord looked right up at me, almost trying to stare me down. I decided he/she would probably fly off when I got a little closer. Which the Robin didn't do. The bird stood his/her ground and watched me closely, almost defiantly. Mac still didn't notice anything.
As I came up to him I flinched (like in a game of Chicken) and the Robin stood still while I walked around him/her on the grass and Mac continued, unawares, in hsi scenting project for the morning. I looked back in a few feet and there was the Robin, turned around, eyes glued to my back (now front). I'm guessing this bird was the leader of the flock!!!
The Camera Bridge
My wife, Ginny, and I were busy snooping out and photographing the early spring flowers peeking their heads up from the earth at Morton Arboretum this morning. As we walked along the road towards Lake
Marmo we met a rather large and scattered group of members from the Arboretum's photography class. Ginny decided to stay at one place and was on her knees busy composing some of the small flowers into a creative scene. I decided to walk a ways away and try my luck with some of the snowbells still in white and riding the gentle breeze that cooled down the morning sunshine.
When I arrived at the best spot for snowbells a lady from the club was finishing up her photoshoot. I felt moved to say something to her, which is not my usual way of relating to "strangers." I said, "I wish these plants would grow taller then we wouldn't have to bend so far to photograph them." I noticed she had a Nikon, the make of camera I use, and asked how she liked it. She mentioned she was new at this photography thing and was a true beginner. I shared with her a couple of simple points to help her in her class. We chatted about her son who was in college and doing some computer programming to help him in his project of instant shutter speeds to catch such things as breaking balloons, dripping water and so on.
Finally Ginny showed up and the three of us got to talking. We were ready to leave and mentioned that we were clergy, Presbyterian. I mentioned that my photography was an act of prayer (contemplation) and that prayer was learning to "pay attention." That's when she shared that she was a cancer patient and had been dealing with cancer for over a year. She recounted all the types of therapy she had to endure and how well she was doing. Then she mentioned that her two doctors were helping her with her spirituality and that she was a student in yoga. She quipped, "Sometimes we have to get whacked on the head to learn to pay attention." We shared a little more of her experience, our future plans, and spirituality and told her we wished the best for her.
As we left to explore more of the arboretum I was imppressed how God arrives when we connect to each other. Even a simple Nikon Camera can be a vehicle to building a bridge that connects with one another.
Marmo we met a rather large and scattered group of members from the Arboretum's photography class. Ginny decided to stay at one place and was on her knees busy composing some of the small flowers into a creative scene. I decided to walk a ways away and try my luck with some of the snowbells still in white and riding the gentle breeze that cooled down the morning sunshine.
When I arrived at the best spot for snowbells a lady from the club was finishing up her photoshoot. I felt moved to say something to her, which is not my usual way of relating to "strangers." I said, "I wish these plants would grow taller then we wouldn't have to bend so far to photograph them." I noticed she had a Nikon, the make of camera I use, and asked how she liked it. She mentioned she was new at this photography thing and was a true beginner. I shared with her a couple of simple points to help her in her class. We chatted about her son who was in college and doing some computer programming to help him in his project of instant shutter speeds to catch such things as breaking balloons, dripping water and so on.
Finally Ginny showed up and the three of us got to talking. We were ready to leave and mentioned that we were clergy, Presbyterian. I mentioned that my photography was an act of prayer (contemplation) and that prayer was learning to "pay attention." That's when she shared that she was a cancer patient and had been dealing with cancer for over a year. She recounted all the types of therapy she had to endure and how well she was doing. Then she mentioned that her two doctors were helping her with her spirituality and that she was a student in yoga. She quipped, "Sometimes we have to get whacked on the head to learn to pay attention." We shared a little more of her experience, our future plans, and spirituality and told her we wished the best for her.
As we left to explore more of the arboretum I was imppressed how God arrives when we connect to each other. Even a simple Nikon Camera can be a vehicle to building a bridge that connects with one another.
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