the stars
are my friends
on dark sky nights
they brighten the snow for me
while the moon overhead
shines with them
I need only lift my eyes
to see the story they will tell
--------------------
in the daytime
I lift my eyes to the hills
I catch the sun playing upon the poplars and birch
scattered over pine and spruce
little dancing sunbeams
awakening something within me
attuned to joy
making my steps light
as baa and neigh sounds
call me to hurry up
and drop some hay
at night
I leave the warmth of
our home...
Eduardo...
games of round rummy...
and Kali cat
who prefers the curling up on a lap
and soft caresses
I head out
and before I can close the door
I catch the song of my quail
my little feathered
watchdog
of the night
always singing to me
the night air quickens me
this coldness some nights bring
that can make my eyelashes stick together
I listen for Mr Owl's
who whoos
from the lone cottonwood far across the field
we are parrots
the two of us
and we play
our game
often
now watching where to put my old weathered feet
the 65 years of walking and cajoling
they have done
I head down our steep hill
taking deep breaths
energy bursting in and out
and I always giggle at the
amazingness of it
I love the snow's soft cushioning
and sometimes it's ice
do I squish
or slide?
checking Shoshi's firebox
I leave smelling like
a Christmas fir tree
and it makes
my nose happy
I drop hay
to all the critters
their complaining changing to sighs
and soft munchings
I close my eyes
and sit on my ageless old ladder
sighing big
for all this fineness
for all the healing
this day has been
Willow dog
sits at my side
I notice she sighs too
Emmanuel
God with us
us restored
walking home
is easier
milk bucket in hand
work done
snow scooped
manure moved
water given
animals content
I put down my bucket
do my swirl around...
this 65 year old weathered dance of ours
the Night and Day Maker
and me
This One who lightens the heart of everyone
Our Redeemer
He who formed us from the womb:
He says
"I am Yahweh,
who makes all things;
who alone stretches out the heavens;
who spreads out the earth by Myself."
looking up my heart is light as I find all my familiar star friends
the Big Dipper spilling out as usual all its fullness upon Shoshi's home
her and the kidlets asleep
I follow to the North Star
then the Little Dipper
my eyes find the group clustered like the moles on my arm
small and squished together
I don't know all their real names
the ones God gave when He alone
placed them where they are
but I know God knows
He shows me
my favourite three
the ones spread in a line
like three kings
and this night they are just above
our home
asking if the King is in
will He find room
In this Inn
my soul sings out to Him
this One who quickens us
that we might be one with Him
and the Father
I know He prays for us
that we might also be one
with each other
His children
as many as
A.L.L. T.H.E. S.T.A.R.S. I.N. T.H.E. S.K.Y.
my favourite things
-----------------------------
bible verse from Isaiah 44:24
