Down by the shed, my two large dogs
were nuzzling
a rabbit who
seemed unafraid.
It was as though she’d met these two
before and knew
they meant no harm.
They continued
for a while, then moseyed on,
leaving me to
ponder how this
friendship came to be.
JDG
Today when I awake, I’ll fall
back into the
arms of time and
relish this hour
on loan from spring. Savoring each
borrowed minute,
I’ll slowly stretch
and surrender
myself to the sweet embrace of
extra time – a
soothing start to
an expansive day.
JDG
When the student said her practice
was not going
well, the teacher
said, “It will pass.”
and when she returned to report
success, the Zen
teacher said, ” It
will pass.” These three
words, “It will pass”, are a strong cane
to help us walk
life’s uneven path
with steadiness.
JDG
Outlined against the morning sky,
the precocious,
bare-limbed tree called
to its slower
sisters, “Come on girls. Don’t dawdle.
Take off those bright
red dresses, those
golden gowns. Strip
down to what’s essential.” “There’s no
hurry,” they replied.
“That time will be
here soon enough.”
JDG
Life is opening and closing
all around us
if we are but
aware. We are
invited to be fully here, to
shut nothing out,
to open ourselves
equally to
sorrow as well as joy, to drink
our fill from Life’s
overflowing
cup, to say yes
again and again and again.
JDG
Out where I live, we prepared as
best we could for
savage winds, downed
power lines, high
water and fallen trees. We came
through unscathed but
when we think of
others not so
fortunate, grief and gratitude
intertwine for
we know things could
have been reversed.
JDG
As the wind picks up, gold showers
down, carpeting
the rain soaked ground,
reminding us
of nature’s vast complexity.
All that has been,
all that is, and
all that will be
falls within her scope. May we use
our time upon
this golden ground
wisely and well.
JDG
An uneasy quiet settles
in today as
we await the
coming winds and
rain. Legged creatures, and winged ones
too, have searched for
sheltered spots. Now,
with supplies laid
in, our thoughts turn to other storms
somehow weathered.
May we be safe.
May all be well.
JDG
Nature, it seems, having received
small mention from
the candidates,
crashed the debate
and insists her voice be heard. “You
can’t keep me off-
shore like some bank
account, nor can
you outsource me. I am the source.
Surely you know
I always have
the final word.”
JDG
On October 17th my granddaughters and I invited you to weigh in with your suggested follow-ups to the sentence, “May each of us remove one stone. Your responses (found below) were varied, clever, and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing them.
Cheryl Yarek writes:
May each of us remove one stone
from the enemy’s hand,
from the angry one’s heart,
from the shoe of a walking friend or foe.
Shell writes:
May each of us
remove one stone
to sense its texture
with listening fingertips.
May each of us
remove one stone
and know the message
that mute stone speaks.
Junie B writes:
May each of us remove one stone, said Joan
and finally put down our damn smart phone
to look around, breathe deeply and appreciate
what God has given us in this imperfect landscape.
In the midst of our hectic days filled with flurry,
we stop, take a breath, and slow down our hurry
to love and risk being present in this day
so our hearts will be able to come out and play.
Dabney writes:
May each of us remove one stone
From the pile we keep for casting
And feel how it could break a bone
And how the hurt would last.
And turning, see it as our own
To do with as we will
And put it in a safer place.
Peace, be still.
Jane Bowe writes:
Like Lazarus,
Once dead to this world –
May we rise and see all things
In a new light.
May shadows, now revealed
By this Holy Gift of Illumination
And grace
Be owned.
May each of us remove one stone.
Joy Celeste Crawford writes:
May each of us remove one stone that is not love
Until love alone remains.
